New one ....

Freddy · 14th August 2005, 08:58 PM

I visited the flea market in Bruges this morning and found this gorgeous African throwing knife. It's from the Mbanja tribe in Congo. The handle is made from some kind of animal hide.

It measures approx. 41,5 cm x 26 cm and it weighs 600 grs.

Tim Simmons · 14th August 2005, 09:09 PM

You do this just to make me sick with envy

Tim

Lew · 15th August 2005, 03:02 AM

Freddy

Very nice! Now give it a throw and see if it sticks

Lew

Montino Bourbon · 15th August 2005, 05:00 AM

Actually these knives were more often used as currency!

Here's some of my faves:

Freddy · 15th August 2005, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montino Bourbon

Actually these knives were more often used as currency!

Here's some of my faves:

You're quite right, but mine is not a currency....it's a weapon. You can tell the difference by looking at the blade. The currency blades are mostly flat on both sides. They can be made from iron or copper. The throwing knives who were meant to be used as weapons are different. One side is flat (the back) and the other side shows some 'relief'. I don't know if this is the correct english word, but I mean by this that it's never flat. This is needed to give the weapon its flight capacities.

Also..currencies are made without a cutting edge. A true throwing knife has a handle made from leather or braided cord. No wooden handles are used because these could be damaged on impact. Sometimes we find throwing knives with wooden handles (even covered in copper). This type of knife then has a more symbolic use. They are status symbol, not to be used for throwing.

Flavio · 15th August 2005, 02:56 PM

Hello. Freddy you are, as usual, perfect (a GREAT KNIFE)!! I would only add that the Kota MUSELE knife (the one with the blade like a raven head) isn't a throwing knife, like in the end of '800 early '900 all the authors thought, but was used in the dances of a secret society only for men called MUNGALA, used ALSO as currency and placed on the graves of the chiefs.

Tim Simmons · 15th August 2005, 10:33 AM

Now you are just trying to drive me insane

zalmoxis · 15th August 2005, 10:45 AM

The hunting was sccesfull :-). Nice one!

Tim Simmons · 15th August 2005, 09:23 PM

All these knives are super, from the functional to the spiritual/magical

Montino I do not know how you have been able to resist cleaning your examples with just a little oil and fine steel wool. Obviously I have regained my sanity

Tim.

Montino Bourbon · 15th August 2005, 09:48 PM

Oh My G*D, and ruin the patina of centuries? I can hear the outraged cries of museum conservators... "you desecrated your priceless collection!"

Ahhh yes, my famous collection of African throwing knives, years and millions spent gathering the rarest and strangest....

Actually, my 'collection' of Fang knife/currency exists only in my computer... I got the pic's from an on-line gallery whose name I now can't remember... Would you like me to post a few more?

Just found the link-
http://www.hamillgallery.com/CURRENC...gCurrency.html

Now you'll REALLY go crazy, Tim!

Montino Bourbon · 15th August 2005, 10:05 PM

Oh and by the way, Tim, did I show you this other little bauble in my collection?

Tim Simmons · 16th August 2005, 08:30 AM

Hi Montino,
Is that your in 'your pictures' or is it really yours

I have a firm grip on the wood work while I wait to hear if those emeralds and other gems are real and in your collection. It is a great pleasure to get involve in that type of work. At any given time only a very small number of things like that are made world wide. Tim

Montino Bourbon · 16th August 2005, 02:36 PM

Yah, it's a great dagger but I found that the emeralds tend to get slippery if you get blood on them so I donated it to the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul... They've got it in their permanent collection now.

14th August 2005, 08:58 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	New one .... I visited the flea market in Bruges this morning and found this gorgeous African throwing knife. It's from the Mbanja tribe in Congo. The handle is made from some kind of animal hide. It measures approx. 41,5 cm x 26 cm and it weighs 600 grs.

15th August 2005, 05:00 AM	#4
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Actually these knives were more often used as currency! Here's some of my faves: Attached Images

15th August 2005, 10:05 PM	#11
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Oh and by the way, Tim, did I show you this other little bauble in my collection? Attached Images

14th August 2005, 09:09 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	You do this just to make me sick with envy Tim

15th August 2005, 03:02 AM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Freddy Very nice! Now give it a throw and see if it sticks Lew

15th August 2005, 02:56 PM	#6
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello. Freddy you are, as usual, perfect (a GREAT KNIFE)!! I would only add that the Kota MUSELE knife (the one with the blade like a raven head) isn't a throwing knife, like in the end of '800 early '900 all the authors thought, but was used in the dances of a secret society only for men called MUNGALA, used ALSO as currency and placed on the graves of the chiefs.

15th August 2005, 10:33 AM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Now you are just trying to drive me insane

15th August 2005, 10:45 AM	#8
zalmoxis Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: GA USA Posts: 76	The hunting was sccesfull :-). Nice one!

15th August 2005, 09:23 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	All these knives are super, from the functional to the spiritual/magical Montino I do not know how you have been able to resist cleaning your examples with just a little oil and fine steel wool. Obviously I have regained my sanity Tim.

15th August 2005, 09:48 PM	#10
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Oh My G*D, and ruin the patina of centuries? I can hear the outraged cries of museum conservators... "you desecrated your priceless collection!" Ahhh yes, my famous collection of African throwing knives, years and millions spent gathering the rarest and strangest.... Actually, my 'collection' of Fang knife/currency exists only in my computer... I got the pic's from an on-line gallery whose name I now can't remember... Would you like me to post a few more? Just found the link- http://www.hamillgallery.com/CURRENC...gCurrency.html Now you'll REALLY go crazy, Tim!

16th August 2005, 08:30 AM	#12
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Hi Montino, Is that your in 'your pictures' or is it really yours I have a firm grip on the wood work while I wait to hear if those emeralds and other gems are real and in your collection. It is a great pleasure to get involve in that type of work. At any given time only a very small number of things like that are made world wide. Tim

16th August 2005, 02:36 PM	#13
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Yah, it's a great dagger but I found that the emeralds tend to get slippery if you get blood on them so I donated it to the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul... They've got it in their permanent collection now.