Zulu Spear

thinreadline · 14th July 2012, 04:07 PM

Hi Chris
Its a pleasure .. Zulu weaponry has been an interest of mine well since I was 11 years old and went to see the film Zulu !
If you examine any late 19th / early 20th century childrens adventure stories , the word assegai is used for spears of any type in any part of Africa .
Yes the middle spear is an throwing spear .. of very good quality and craftsmanship , and yes I am sure in times of war, 'disposable' weapons such as throwing spears would certainly suffer in quality and also relate to the wealth and position of the owner .

mross · 16th July 2012, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinreadline

Hi Chris
Its a pleasure .. Zulu weaponry has been an interest of mine well since I was 11 years old and went to see the film Zulu !
If you examine any late 19th / early 20th century childrens adventure stories , the word assegai is used for spears of any type in any part of Africa .
Yes the middle spear is an throwing spear .. of very good quality and craftsmanship , and yes I am sure in times of war, 'disposable' weapons such as throwing spears would certainly suffer in quality and also relate to the wealth and position of the owner .

Intresting topic. From your pictures the middle one is the one I would associate with the throwing spear and it seems that is the case. The bottom one is the one I always thought was the assegai. Is that correct? What then is the top one? I have read the form evolved into the larger blade around the time of Shaka, or because of I suppose.

katana · 19th July 2012, 03:25 AM

I've read references that state that Zulu spearheads are forged with a shoulder at the base of the 'head' . Such as Thinreadline's example. Many 'provenanced' spears I have seen support this statement.

All the best David

collectingspears · 29th June 2013, 11:06 AM

The shoulder on the base of the blade is actually common on all Northern Nguni spear blades including; Zulu, Swazi, Shangaan, Matabele and all the Ngoni groups in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia & Tanzania. the notch is even seen on some Southern Nguni spears. A visit to any old traditional spearmaker in these countries will confirm this fact.
Regards,

19th July 2012, 03:25 AM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	I've read references that state that Zulu spearheads are forged with a shoulder at the base of the 'head' . Such as Thinreadline's example. Many 'provenanced' spears I have seen support this statement. All the best David Attached Images

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14th July 2012, 04:07 PM	#1
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Hi Chris Its a pleasure .. Zulu weaponry has been an interest of mine well since I was 11 years old and went to see the film Zulu ! If you examine any late 19th / early 20th century childrens adventure stories , the word assegai is used for spears of any type in any part of Africa . Yes the middle spear is an throwing spear .. of very good quality and craftsmanship , and yes I am sure in times of war, 'disposable' weapons such as throwing spears would certainly suffer in quality and also relate to the wealth and position of the owner .

29th June 2013, 11:06 AM	#4
collectingspears Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Swaziland Posts: 6	The shoulder on the base of the blade is actually common on all Northern Nguni spear blades including; Zulu, Swazi, Shangaan, Matabele and all the Ngoni groups in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia & Tanzania. the notch is even seen on some Southern Nguni spears. A visit to any old traditional spearmaker in these countries will confirm this fact. Regards,