Zulu Assegai descriptions

The Double D · 22nd July 2006, 06:23 PM

Bryant in The Zulu People has a wonderful description of the inHlendhla or iZakha, or as he refers to it inTlendla.

Quote:

The inTlendla was a "royal" weapon, carried only by the chief and other great men as he permitted. It had a a barbed blade (with two wings, each about 2 inches long) at the end of a very long shank. It was commonly used by the gentry as a walking staff of quality: though on occasion it was used for more serious business of either stabbing or hurling at a foe, who generally ran off with, as it was difficult to extract.

Tim Simmons · 22nd July 2006, 06:32 PM

Oh you are a lovely man

. Thanks Tim.

Tim Simmons · 27th July 2006, 07:01 AM

This picture was very kindly brought to my attention by Douglas. The Zulu dignitary is carrying the same spear. How nice, to find it is rather special

.

The Double D · 27th July 2006, 04:33 PM

And the next step...

In another thread I mentioned on a spear buying trip, my wife took it upon herself to liquidate my on hand cash and buy some knobkerries.

Here is one she bought. It is 38 inches long'

Do you see it in the picture? It's not a knobkerrie at all. It is the stick for a shield. If this stick is for a shield it may be for a iHubelo or hunting shield or an umBumbuluso or Cetshwayo War shield.

The Double D · 16th December 2006, 04:54 PM

isiKwata

59 inches long (149.5 cm) overall. Blade 8 inches (20 cm) long by 1 3/4 inches (4.5 cm) wide. Exposed shaft 5 inches (12.5 cm)

Heavy haft with hair covered leather binding.

Straight butt.

I am not comfortable with the description of of this spear as isKwata but it's the best I can come up with. If someone has a better idea I am listening.

The Double D · 16th December 2006, 06:08 PM

iKhebezane: Assegai with long broad blade with grooves, not common in Zululand. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary. Colenso and Calloway say that it is a light spear which Colenso states is used by the amaPhondo.

A.T. Bryant in The Zulu People gives this additional information. "In the iKebezane assegai (confined to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos) one half of the blade, back and front , but on opposite sides was grooved concavely.

I used this description to describe the small spear up thread. This week I got this spear.

This spear is 45 inches long (114.5 cm ). Blade is 16 inches long by 2 inches wide (40 cm x 5 cm). No exposed shaft, concave blade and no swollen butt.

I think this new spear more correctly fits the description of iKhebezane than the ligther one. Both spears were made using the same manufacturing techniques.

The new spear is also very definitely a stabbing spear.

The Double D · 16th December 2006, 06:30 PM

inGcula

Overall length 53 inches (135 cm). Blade 4 1/2 inches by 7/8 inches (11 cm x 2.2 cm) Shank 7 1/2 inches (190 cm) Flared butt.

16th December 2006, 04:54 PM	#5
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	isiKwata 59 inches long (149.5 cm) overall. Blade 8 inches (20 cm) long by 1 3/4 inches (4.5 cm) wide. Exposed shaft 5 inches (12.5 cm) Heavy haft with hair covered leather binding. Straight butt. I am not comfortable with the description of of this spear as isKwata but it's the best I can come up with. If someone has a better idea I am listening. Last edited by The Double D; 16th December 2006 at 06:16 PM.

22nd July 2006, 06:32 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Oh you are a lovely man . Thanks Tim.

27th July 2006, 07:01 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	This picture was very kindly brought to my attention by Douglas. The Zulu dignitary is carrying the same spear. How nice, to find it is rather special .

27th July 2006, 04:33 PM	#4
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	And the next step... In another thread I mentioned on a spear buying trip, my wife took it upon herself to liquidate my on hand cash and buy some knobkerries. Here is one she bought. It is 38 inches long' Do you see it in the picture? It's not a knobkerrie at all. It is the stick for a shield. If this stick is for a shield it may be for a iHubelo or hunting shield or an umBumbuluso or Cetshwayo War shield.

16th December 2006, 06:08 PM	#6
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	iKhebezane: Assegai with long broad blade with grooves, not common in Zululand. Bryant, Zulu-English Dictionary. Colenso and Calloway say that it is a light spear which Colenso states is used by the amaPhondo. A.T. Bryant in The Zulu People gives this additional information. "In the iKebezane assegai (confined to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos) one half of the blade, back and front , but on opposite sides was grooved concavely. I used this description to describe the small spear up thread. This week I got this spear. This spear is 45 inches long (114.5 cm ). Blade is 16 inches long by 2 inches wide (40 cm x 5 cm). No exposed shaft, concave blade and no swollen butt. I think this new spear more correctly fits the description of iKhebezane than the ligther one. Both spears were made using the same manufacturing techniques. The new spear is also very definitely a stabbing spear.

16th December 2006, 06:30 PM	#7
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	inGcula Overall length 53 inches (135 cm). Blade 4 1/2 inches by 7/8 inches (11 cm x 2.2 cm) Shank 7 1/2 inches (190 cm) Flared butt.