Stick, a question of balance

fearn · 6th December 2008, 08:53 PM

Hi Tim,

I'll ask the dumb questions again. Why isn't it a knobkerrie? To me, the wood could be African.

What I'm specifically wondering is if it's from South Africa circa 1970. That would place it in the middle of apartheid Africa, quite possibly from a township. In that environment, I'd have no trouble seeing someone weight the end of his knobkerrie to get the balance right, because he might well be fighting with it, either as part of a gang or for self-defense--or both. A piece of scrap metal that fits the shaft would be perfect for something like this.

Would that interpretation work, or is there something I'm missing?

F

Tim Simmons · 6th December 2008, 09:06 PM

Fearn glad you piped up.

What I am interested in is.-

Is it scrap metal? or is it a trade item, I hate to say it but like beads? As to age this is the downfall of collecting ethno artifacts? All I can say is it matches all our 19th century furniture and other clubs in patina? who knows? Execpt I am sure it is older than 1970.

6th December 2008, 08:53 PM	#1
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Tim, I'll ask the dumb questions again. Why isn't it a knobkerrie? To me, the wood could be African. What I'm specifically wondering is if it's from South Africa circa 1970. That would place it in the middle of apartheid Africa, quite possibly from a township. In that environment, I'd have no trouble seeing someone weight the end of his knobkerrie to get the balance right, because he might well be fighting with it, either as part of a gang or for self-defense--or both. A piece of scrap metal that fits the shaft would be perfect for something like this. Would that interpretation work, or is there something I'm missing? F

6th December 2008, 09:06 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Fearn glad you piped up. What I am interested in is.- Is it scrap metal? or is it a trade item, I hate to say it but like beads? As to age this is the downfall of collecting ethno artifacts? All I can say is it matches all our 19th century furniture and other clubs in patina? who knows? Execpt I am sure it is older than 1970.