Congo scarification knife... which Tribe?

Tim Simmons · 8th June 2006, 10:21 PM

Yes I see what you mean. I still see it just a little clumsy compered to the ones I have and the one in the thread mentioned, which all have a curve to the cutting edge, so as to quickly nick the skin, this seems to lack that but it could well be. At 11cm it would not be a high value currency unit but you need small monies as much as large ones. I think the cross section may have some baring on the matter as this is reflected in the more proper weapons of the region. So this strikes me as a miniature representation of them. Just another puzzle from Africa.

Tim Simmons · 8th June 2006, 10:22 PM

Well done Flavio!!

Mapico1 · 9th June 2006, 04:20 PM

Hi,it is a scarification knife also used as razor probably from the Kuba in Kongo.I collect this type of knives and have many.

katana · 9th June 2006, 04:55 PM

Thankyou for the information Mapico, I was told that the Congo was the source of this knife. I appreciate it is difficult to say exactly which tribe this would be associated, but at least the sugestion of the Kuba will help me to find out more information.

Flavio · 9th June 2006, 05:41 PM

Hello guys, here are the pictures. The first shows three scarifications/tatoo blades: the first from right is very similar to the one of Katana (collected by the italian explorer Persano before 1907). The other picture shows some other blades: the first three from left come from the tribe Bikorò (never heard before!) the others come from Kusu. The pictures are taken from book: LAME D'AFRICA (Marco S. Piccardi - Luciano Salvatici).

katana · 9th June 2006, 06:42 PM

Thanks Flavio,

that really is similar, are there any dimensions in the referance book you used?

Flavio · 9th June 2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Thanks Flavio,

that really is similar, are there any dimensions in the referance book you used?

Sure, sorry I have forgotten them: the lenght of the one similar to yours is 14,3 cm. The blades in the second picture are between 9,6 cm and 17,8 cm

9th June 2006, 05:41 PM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello guys, here are the pictures. The first shows three scarifications/tatoo blades: the first from right is very similar to the one of Katana (collected by the italian explorer Persano before 1907). The other picture shows some other blades: the first three from left come from the tribe Bikorò (never heard before!) the others come from Kusu. The pictures are taken from book: LAME D'AFRICA (Marco S. Piccardi - Luciano Salvatici). Attached Images

8th June 2006, 10:21 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Yes I see what you mean. I still see it just a little clumsy compered to the ones I have and the one in the thread mentioned, which all have a curve to the cutting edge, so as to quickly nick the skin, this seems to lack that but it could well be. At 11cm it would not be a high value currency unit but you need small monies as much as large ones. I think the cross section may have some baring on the matter as this is reflected in the more proper weapons of the region. So this strikes me as a miniature representation of them. Just another puzzle from Africa.

8th June 2006, 10:22 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Well done Flavio!!

9th June 2006, 04:20 PM	#3
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Hi,it is a scarification knife also used as razor probably from the Kuba in Kongo.I collect this type of knives and have many.

9th June 2006, 04:55 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thankyou for the information Mapico, I was told that the Congo was the source of this knife. I appreciate it is difficult to say exactly which tribe this would be associated, but at least the sugestion of the Kuba will help me to find out more information.

9th June 2006, 06:42 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thanks Flavio, that really is similar, are there any dimensions in the referance book you used?