A spear ... or assegai. Tourist or real ?

fernando · 1st March 2008, 01:50 PM

I asked its price, strongly thinking i wouldn't probably buy it, though

.
The young lady seller said, you can have it for free ... just don't let my old mother know it

.
It has one meter total length. The binding is made of brass wire, much thinner than usually seen ( to my layman experience ). The butt spike is so little, i wonder if this was only for fixing some missing decoration. The wood is strong and heavy.
My questions are: could this be a tourist goody, or is it the real thing? From what region or tribe?
Thanks for comenting.
Fernando

Pukka Bundook · 1st March 2008, 03:56 PM

Fernando,

I'll give you three times the price you paid!

I do not know much about things like this, but it does not look tourist at all.

I think the metal on the butt end was to hold another fitting, maybe a ball?

Congratulations!

Richard.

katana · 1st March 2008, 05:32 PM

Hi Fernando,
I think it it could be genuine, perhaps more of a status symbol or a sceptre than a fighting spear....although the spearhead looks to be 'functional'. As to origins...Zulu, Shona

certainly Southern Africa.

Congrats.......and gratis

I would buy it for 100 times more than you paid.......certainly a better offer than Richard's

fernando · 2nd March 2008, 12:20 AM

Thank you for your coments, Richard.
I was thinking not a ball but, instead, a cow ( or other animal ) hairy tail.
Thank you David, both for your "congratis" and the hint on the origins.
I take note of your higher offer. Watch it, i might take it seriously. The same way i gained it just because i asked its price, you might as well gain it because you bided on it

.
Fernando

1st March 2008, 01:50 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A spear ... or assegai. Tourist or real ? I asked its price, strongly thinking i wouldn't probably buy it, though . The young lady seller said, you can have it for free ... just don't let my old mother know it . It has one meter total length. The binding is made of brass wire, much thinner than usually seen ( to my layman experience ). The butt spike is so little, i wonder if this was only for fixing some missing decoration. The wood is strong and heavy. My questions are: could this be a tourist goody, or is it the real thing? From what region or tribe? Thanks for comenting. Fernando Attached Images

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1st March 2008, 03:56 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Fernando, I'll give you three times the price you paid! I do not know much about things like this, but it does not look tourist at all. I think the metal on the butt end was to hold another fitting, maybe a ball? Congratulations! Richard.

1st March 2008, 05:32 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Fernando, I think it it could be genuine, perhaps more of a status symbol or a sceptre than a fighting spear....although the spearhead looks to be 'functional'. As to origins...Zulu, Shona certainly Southern Africa. Congrats.......and gratis I would buy it for 100 times more than you paid.......certainly a better offer than Richard's

2nd March 2008, 12:20 AM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you for your coments, Richard. I was thinking not a ball but, instead, a cow ( or other animal ) hairy tail. Thank you David, both for your "congratis" and the hint on the origins. I take note of your higher offer. Watch it, i might take it seriously. The same way i gained it just because i asked its price, you might as well gain it because you bided on it . Fernando