Group of African spears, Batonka? Zambesi River area?
 

Purchased these spearheads a while ago, all 4 bought together from a militaria collector. These were part of a lot dated 18c-19c.
I have had difficulty in finding the origins of these spear heads, until I found this listing from Therion Arms.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

The spear heads are tanged and secured by iron banding, very, very similar to the spear listed above. Each of the spear heads have approximately 6-7'' of the original shaft attached. A real shame that someone decided to shorten them :mad: . One of the spears seems certainly, to be a fishing spear/harpoon. The large spearhead, is very heavy, the shaft is 1.5'' (3.75 cms) diameter and would surely be a stabbing spear. The other 2 (barbed) are not symmetrical, in that they look as if they have lost some of the barbs. But as far as I can tell they were manufactured that way. Any help/comments will be gratefully received, thankyou.

Nice pointy things, even 19th cent might be a little optimistic but one learns to accept that some militaria dealers usually add a century or two what ever.

Hi Tim,
it does seem common that sellers often embellish an item with fanciful stories ;)
I personally think late 19c/early 20c, but,that is just a 'feeling', the patina of the iron heads seems consistent with that sort of age. As does the remaining shafts.
I was hoping that this 'group' are a range of spearheads produced by the same tribe/culture, have you any ideas? I have never seen iron banding used to secure the head, before. Only the 'usual' (?), hide or wire (braided and whipped)

I've searched in "Waffen aus Zentral Afrika" Museum für Völkerkunde Stuttgart and "Ijzerwerk van Central-Afrika" H.Westerdijk book.
There are similar arrows heads but they are not tanged and secured by iron banding.
Luc

Thanks for looking Luc