Root ball knobkerrie from a Zulu collection...or is it ?

[katana]

Hi,
just got 'hold' of this knobkerrie, made from a rootball. Fantastic old glossy patina with tooling marks. Was told that this came from a collection of Zulu items and is 19th C , the patina certainly seems to support the age....but Zulu ? It was also described as being approx 2kgs in weight !!! That is a hefty 'lump' !! I worked out the density (approx via the photos and measurements) and found it was almost equal to CAST IRON ....now, I have heard that a small number of knobkerries had lead (molten poured into a cavity in the 'knob') and believed that this could explain the 'extreme' weight. So I took a risk and bought it.

When it arrived ......it only weighed approx 500g ....a quarter of the stated weight. It seems that sending items through 'Royal Mail' makes you lose weight.......so forget all these diets, package yourself up and send yourself through the mail (preferably to a warm country) so when you arrive....the new slimmer you can grab a tan ....to compliment the 'new look' you. ......I might even patent the new 'Royal Mail diet'

Disappointed about the weight....but is this possibly Zulu or SA or even African ?

If anyone recognises the wood....it would be a great help.

All comments gratefully received ......any one who wants to use the new 'Royal Mail Diet' PM for prices

Kind Regards David

[Atlantia]

Hi David.

Not more 'local' is it?
Difficult to judge the length but it kind of looks like it could be a rustic root ball walking stick of the 'Shillelagh' variety.

Did you mention the 'slight' discrepancy in weight to the seller?

Best
Gene

P.S. As to the wood. Id have guessed hawthorn or blackthorn

[katana]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hi David.

Not more 'local' is it?
Difficult to judge the length but it kind of looks like it could be a rustic root ball walking stick of the 'Shillelagh' variety.

Did you mention the 'slight' discrepancy in weight to the seller?

Best
Gene

P.S. As to the wood. Id have guessed hawthorn or blackthorn

Hi Gene ,
yes I've contacted seller (only received the club today) so do not have a reply as yet.

OAL is 30" (76cms), the almost conical head is unusual ....many of the Shillelaghs I have seen tend to have a slightly ofset 'knob' or a 'hammer' type head, also they tend to have the remains of the thorns on the shaft.
Seller, was told that the wood was a form of oak (I checked and found there are oak species in SA) and that a SA friend (of the seller) had apparently ID'ed as Zulu.

I have seen images of 'rough hewn' /hand carved knobkerries ID'ed as Zulu or surrounding tribes ...I will try and find them. But, if I remember correctly none had this 'conical' type head.

Best
David

PS you've been a very busy boy just recently , love some of your new 'Acquistions'

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Gene ,
yes I've contacted seller (only received the club today) so do not have a reply as yet.

OAL is 30" (76cms), the almost conical head is unusual ....many of the Shillelaghs I have seen tend to have a slightly ofset 'knob' or a 'hammer' type head, also they tend to have the remains of the thorns on the shaft.
Seller, was told that the wood was a form of oak (I checked and found there are oak species in SA) and that a SA friend (of the seller) had apparently ID'ed as Zulu.

I have seen images of 'rough hewn' /hand carved knobkerries ID'ed as Zulu or surrounding tribes ...I will try and find them. But, if I remember correctly none had this 'conical' type head.

Best
David

PS you've been a very busy boy just recently , love some of your new 'Acquistions'

Hi David,

76cm would work as a walking stick.
TBH I was thinking of a non-Irish, club/walking stick of the Shillelagh type.

English even?
A folksy rustic whacker!

Could be wrong of course. Just my first impression.


LOL, yeah I've overspent horribly this month!!

[Tim Simmons]

I tend to agree with Colin in East Africa, how far north or south is another matter. The smaller one is 76cm long.

[katana]

Thank you Colin and Tim for your comments

In searching for the images of the alleged Zulu knobkerries that were 'hand carved' I came across this from Fagan Arms......

NGUNI KNOBKERRY

Southeast Africa. 19 1/4 length. The head incorporating the root cluster and finely carved in the shape of a rhino horn base...... A distinct step separates the head from the haft which is a polished natural stem including its shoot nubs, forming a fascinating juxtaposition with the meticulously shaped head. Excellent with fine patina. The Nguni occupied territory south of the Zulu and adopted Shakas cultural and military practices to conquer and assimilate their neighbors in the 19th century migrations known as mfecane. Zulu artifacts owe their survival to English occupation but 19th century Nguni weapons are rarely encountered.

Picture below.............does seem very similar...although mine is darker, the grain patterning is also comparable.

[colin henshaw]

Hi David

Its difficult to judge from a photograph....but I am fairly sure its not South African. I've seen East African clubs "rungu" with a similar form, but usually with a smoother finish. Might well be a European cudgel of some type.

Regards.