![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,653
|
![]()
Recently bought this walking stick. Seems Zulu ....hand made ( not cut on a lathe) . The square 'sectioned' spiral is very neatly done, shaft not completely round, slight bend and the knob is not symetrical.
A later, small steel ferrule (old) is fitted to the 'foot'. Has a nice balance...if used 'sword-like' (with the knob as the pommel....the spiralling is perfectly positioned for the thumb, giving excellent 'control' ....maybe just coincidental ![]() I was under the impression that a number of Zulu sticks / knobkerries were brought back during late 19thC - early 20thC and were 'slightly modified' for the walking use of the Gentleman 'about town'. Could this stick be one of them ?? All comments gratefully received, thank you David |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
|
![]()
aha! so you're the one that beat me in the bidding, i should have added a few pounds to my bid... glad it went to a fellow forumite tho.
i believe it was marked as 'lignum vitae' which is the heaviest wood & does not come from africa. zulu's used Umhlebe (also called Umguna), a.k.a. 'assegai wood' (european name for Curtisia Faginea) a dogwood family member also known as lance wood. i believe the specific gravity of lignum vitae is heavier than water, assegai wood is just under, so the question is does it float? ![]() african ebony and ironwood can also be denser than water tho i'm not sure if zulu's used it either. edited: just tried my knobkerry, which was supposedly made from 'assegai wood'. it sank like a rock... water=62.4 lb/cu.ft. Curtisia Faginea=56 lb/cu.ft. lignum vitae/ironwood = 70-90 lb/cu. ft. Last edited by kronckew; 4th July 2010 at 08:24 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,653
|
![]()
Hi Wayne,
I'll take it into the bath with me ....for purely scientific reasons ...although I could also test it's functionality on 'poor' rubber duckie ![]() I'm confident that it is Assegai wood, I'll report back with the result Kind Regards David |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 97
|
![]()
Hi Guys, I thought it was Red Ivory .
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,653
|
![]()
Well, the stick immediately sank like a stone. Hi Graeme, there is a slight 'reddish' tinge to some areas of the lighter coloured grain, but I do not think its 'natural' to the wood.
Can I conclude that this is indeed Zulu .... and does late 19th -early 20th seem reasonable date wise ? I am still intrigued with the spiralling. As I mentioned before it provides excellent grip if the stick was used 'sword-like' and is positioned where it provides a good balance. With the Zulu tradition of stick fighting and knobkerrie use... I wonder whether such 'defence canes' were used using techniques from both disciplines ? Regards David |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
|
![]()
most works on using a cane i've seen combine swordlike strikes and thrusts with the ball (or handle) acting as a pommel and counterbalance & as something to prevent the cane being pulled out of your control. they also emphasise using the pommel as a striking surface, including holding it nearer the opposite end and swinging it like a mace or knobkerry. of course these strikes could also be used with a sword. holding the blade and thwacking an opponent on the head with the pommel were well know techniques back when they might mean survival. a cane can and should be used with both hands active.
there is a well known cane maker in the states that uses a spiral fluting all the way down the canes as a trade mark. the edges, bumps and lumps increase the damage done by a strike using them. ![]() Linky for reference. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|