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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Poole England
Posts: 441
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A recent local buy. In fact I got 2 of them almost identical to each other.
As you can see they resemble Masai in construction but are much more slender. The shaft of the one in the photos is, I think, a replacement. The other one is original. The blade guard is raw hide and very stiff. ( The only reason I photographed this one is that I cannot get the guard off the other, it is currently soaking in leather oil ) They are approximately 8 1/2 feet long when assembled !! So, can anyone identify them for me please ? Thanks Roy |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: between work and sleep
Posts: 731
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Uneducated guess... samburu?
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#3 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 1,693
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I've seen these referred to as Maasai elders' spears. I don't have a good reference, but if I recall correctly they are apparently intended for cattle guarding duty, rather than the lion spears, which are reserved for the hunt.
Hopefully someone else can chime in. Your example looks to have some age, although the forging quality is a bit rougher than what I would expect in a 19th century example. I seem to recall that in Maasai pieces a decline in quality is often attributed to the British ban on blades in the 1930s (although to be 100% honest I'm not sure if the ban was on semes or spears as well). Best, Iain |
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#4 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 910
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Per Spring (1993), this is a spear of the type carried by Maasai elders. An example measuring 200 cm in overall length is pictured on p. 112. (Your example is much nicer than my own.)
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,653
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I think they may be Turkana.....
Regards David |
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#6 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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What a fascinating scabbard (?).
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#7 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
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I saw a similar one for sale a a belgian trader/collector who collected it in east africa. Can't remember the exact tribe, but i am quite sure that he did not attribute it to Zulu tribe. Nice picture by the way of the running warrior. Nice shield with the ostrich feathers. ![]() Best regards, Willem |
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 332
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BTW, Cold Steel firm makes a nice modern replica Last edited by David; 18th September 2010 at 05:58 PM. Reason: No commercial links please! |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
Posts: 2,653
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Although these spears could be Samburu, I still believe Turkana is more likely (the similarity is due to the fact these are neighbouring tribes, as they are also with the Masai) It is the blade cover that convinces me of that
Below are two links.....hover your cursor over the picture to magnify......notice the blade cover http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/...F%208245%20ABC http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/...F%208248%20ABC The Samburu version tends to have a narrower blade.... http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/...F%206180%20ABC Regards David |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,781
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Just a simple thing really, but I like these hammer marks. Clearly intentional and how they like subtle decoration that fits the form so well.
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: between work and sleep
Posts: 731
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Thanks for the info... I was hoping I'd be close... my knowledge of African weaponry is lacking. Guess I can't be blamed for mixing up Masai, Turkana, and Samburur spears as an amateur... |
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#12 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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THIS IS THE SPEAR I SAW MOST COMMONLY CARRIED BY THE MASAI IN TANZANIA. THE LION SPEAR IS NOT COMMONLY CARRIED AND IS MORE EXPENSIVE SO THIS IS THE ONE MOST COMMONLY FOUND AMONG THE MASAI. THE LEATHER COVER IS ALSO TYPICAL OF THE ONES CARRIED BY THE MASAI THERE , MY EXAMPLES ARE THE SAME BUT HAVE A LITTLE BEAD DECORATION. THE BEADS MAY HAVE BEEN PUT THERE TO MAKE THEM MORE ATTRACTIVE TO TOURISTS OR JUST LOCAL DECORATION EITHER WAY THE ONES SOLD TO TOURISTS WERE THE SAME QUALITY AS THOSE ACTUALLY IN USE. THERE ARE LIKELY MANY TRIBES WHO CARRY SIMULAR SPEARS SO MOST LIKELY ALL IDENTIFICATIONS SO FAR HAVE BEEN ACCURATE. THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE WHICH TRIBE WOULD BE ,BUYING IT ON SITE YOURSELF OR HAVING GOOD ACCURATE PROVENANCE. LOOKS TO BE A NICE OLDER EXAMPLE CONGRADULATIONS.
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#13 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 228
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Hi Vandoo
My knowledge on this area is also hardly comprehensive, but I think Turkano may be right. The 'scabbard' is exactly like those found on Turkano wrist knives. It is made of cowhide, is it? Having said that, I used to see this spear and the 'lionkiller' spear frequently in Johannesburg flea markets, identified as 'masai'. However, I never once saw them with the thong scabbard. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
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Just to add to this thread. I recently acquired a similar spear that originated from Kenya. The seller, had lived in Kenya for some years (during the '60's) and had actually been hunting (spears) with some of the local tribes. It seems that many tribes in the area obtain weapons from several 'blacksmiths' scattered in the region, so ID'ing spears to a specific tribe is impossible.
This probably helps to explain why these and the 'lion' spears are common to the area.....rather than a specific tribe. The 'slight' differences between 'identical' spears being the blacksmith's manufacturing rather than tribal variation. Regards David |
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