Iklwa inquiry! Iklwa inquiry! Iklwa inquiry!

katana · 17th April 2013, 02:48 AM

Hi,
I have mounted a genuine Zulu spearhead to a replacement shaft....copying one of their techniques.

Drill a smaller diameter hole (slightly smaller than the tang) into the end of the shaft (as deep as you need.... full or half 'tang' length.) If you can obtain a cow tail cut a suitable length (slightly longer than the depth of the tang) with a diameter around the same size as the shaft.....slightly smaller is much better) Remove the bone and tissue without damaging the skin. You could at this stage leave it somewhere where it would remain dry but allow access to ants ......Yes ants ... they will clean remaining residue and are excellent little 'workers'

. This can then be treated (chemicals) to remove hair (if necessary). The leather tube is then later soaked in water to soften and make the tube easier to stretch over the shaft

Heat the tang to a reddish colour and insert into the drilled hole (use leather gloves) it will burn into the wood. Remove and repeat until the tang is at the required depth. Remove spearhead. The wet leather tube is then placed/pulled over the shaft. At the same time reheat the tang and force the spearhead into the shaft. Ensure the tube is in the correct position, (often some of the tang is partly covered in leather) and then allow to dry slowly. The leather will shrink and tighten .......once fully dry trim the edges with a sharp knife/scalpel. Use a wax later to seal the wood and leather.

Hope this helps or gives you some ideas

Kind Regards David

nKante · 19th April 2013, 05:18 AM

Thanks Katana! It's funny you ask, because I do have a cow tail laying around.But it is to used in another project.I will sew a sleeve from the rawhide I have left.

Norman McCormick · 19th April 2013, 01:09 PM

Hi nKante,
Here are some of mine which may help. Two complete with cow tails one with the binding only and one of the head only. Hope this is of some help.
Regards,
Norman.

katana · 19th April 2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nKante

Thanks Katana! It's funny you ask, because I do have a cow tail laying around.But it is to used in another project.I will sew a sleeve from the rawhide I have left.

I would suggest that you soak the sleeve in water, wrap around the shaft and sew the seam then. As the leather ...dries it shrinks and gives a very firm hold. One more suggestion, if you cut rawhide into small pieces and gently boil in water you can create 'hide glue'. (google for more info) . Put the glue in the area where the sleeve is to be placed and then wrap with the 'wet' leather and sew (glue could also be 'run along the seam). The addition of this natural glue (known to the Zulus) improves the strength of the binding as it now not only applies 'compression' as the sheath dries and shrinks but is bonded to the wooden shaft. I have done this myself and works a treat

Hi Norman,
nice collection .....the second one down....is there a twine binding (whipping) underneath the hide sheaf ? I have seen some where this type of binding is used. The sheaf is placed over the whipping and shrunk over it. But, I have also seen some where there is a texture created by applying the cord over the top of the wet hide, which is left to dry/shrink and later the string removed leaving the imprint of the cord. It's possible that this texture improves grip to aid removal from the poor victim

but do not know for certain

All the best
David

Norman McCormick · 19th April 2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Norman,
nice collection .....the second one down....is there a twine binding (whipping) underneath the hide sheaf ? I have seen some where this type of binding is used. The sheaf is placed over the whipping and shrunk over it. But, I have also seen some where there is a texture created by applying the cord over the top of the wet hide, which is left to dry/shrink and later the string removed leaving the imprint of the cord. It's possible that this texture improves grip to aid removal from the poor victim

but do not know for certain

All the best
David

Hi David,
You're dead right, the 2nd one down does not have any binding underneath, see photo. I would suspect your deduction may have some creedence.

My Regards,
Norman.

katana · 19th April 2013, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi David,
You're dead right, the 2nd one down does not have any binding underneath, see photo. I would suspect your deduction may have some creedence.

My Regards,
Norman.

Hi Norman

,
sometimes the sheathing covers/holds the lower section of the spearhead shaft ...I believe that this 'overlap' is deliberate and is bound tight around the metal shaft (with a strip or cord to compress) to compress and mould the wet hide to tightly fit and support the spearhead shaft further .....later the strip/cord removed, once dry and shrunk.

All the best
David

Norman McCormick · 20th April 2013, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Norman

,
sometimes the sheathing covers/holds the lower section of the spearhead shaft ...I believe that this 'overlap' is deliberate and is bound tight around the metal shaft (with a strip or cord to compress) to compress and mould the wet hide to tightly fit and support the spearhead shaft further .....later the strip/cord removed, once dry and shrunk.

All the best
David

Hi David,
On the two with 'cow tails' that I posted both shafts are partly covered/gripped by hide.
My Regards,
Norman.

nKante · 20th April 2013, 08:20 PM

Thanks everyone! All of this helps alot. I love the bit of info about the glue. That will come in handy for so many projects.

19th April 2013, 01:09 PM	#3
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	Hi nKante, Here are some of mine which may help. Two complete with cow tails one with the binding only and one of the head only. Hope this is of some help. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

17th April 2013, 02:48 AM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi, I have mounted a genuine Zulu spearhead to a replacement shaft....copying one of their techniques. Drill a smaller diameter hole (slightly smaller than the tang) into the end of the shaft (as deep as you need.... full or half 'tang' length.) If you can obtain a cow tail cut a suitable length (slightly longer than the depth of the tang) with a diameter around the same size as the shaft.....slightly smaller is much better) Remove the bone and tissue without damaging the skin. You could at this stage leave it somewhere where it would remain dry but allow access to ants ......Yes ants ... they will clean remaining residue and are excellent little 'workers' . This can then be treated (chemicals) to remove hair (if necessary). The leather tube is then later soaked in water to soften and make the tube easier to stretch over the shaft Heat the tang to a reddish colour and insert into the drilled hole (use leather gloves) it will burn into the wood. Remove and repeat until the tang is at the required depth. Remove spearhead. The wet leather tube is then placed/pulled over the shaft. At the same time reheat the tang and force the spearhead into the shaft. Ensure the tube is in the correct position, (often some of the tang is partly covered in leather) and then allow to dry slowly. The leather will shrink and tighten .......once fully dry trim the edges with a sharp knife/scalpel. Use a wax later to seal the wood and leather. Hope this helps or gives you some ideas Kind Regards David

19th April 2013, 05:18 AM	#2
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	Thanks Katana! It's funny you ask, because I do have a cow tail laying around.But it is to used in another project.I will sew a sleeve from the rawhide I have left.

20th April 2013, 08:20 PM	#8
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	Thanks everyone! All of this helps alot. I love the bit of info about the glue. That will come in handy for so many projects.