Ingassana, throwing blade.

Tim Simmons · 22nd April 2006, 08:09 PM

While playing in the sunshine today I came across this throwing knife blade. Quite heavy 58cm from tip to tip average thickness 4mm. I think it is possibly Ingassana, southern Sudan. It was very rusty. It appears never to have had a handle. Although it is tempered/hardened it may have just represented currency. Presumably the decoration has some meaning "look out here comes trouble

". Freddy showed something similar some years ago with a cloth wrap handle. I do not think that would work with this example. It is the snake form I have read about. I also got a spear today, how lucky I am. Will post that next. Tim

Wodimi · 23rd April 2006, 09:57 PM

Hello Tim,

what you have is, if Jan Elsen is right, a sickle knife from DRC. You found it among the Meje and Makere, living at the upper Aruwimi and Rubi. It has normal a handle of wood or also ivory.
Both typs of Ingessana throwing knifes are showing on the attached picture.

Wolf

Tim Simmons · 23rd April 2006, 10:11 PM

Thanks Wolf, great name by the way.

I think you are right I been looking in Zirngibl's Afrikanische Waffen and seen smaller knives with the very same shape. What a shame this does not have an ivory handle, as you can see the tang is untouched, must be currency. Tim

Tim Simmons · 24th April 2006, 12:22 PM

This is a page from Jan Elsen's Tribal Arms Monographs. Did I do well

the luck of the devil

I have number 2.

Tim Simmons · 24th April 2006, 09:14 PM

I forgot to mention, if this is that rare, I got it for exorbitant sum of 5 portions. Not bad at all. Tim

Luc LEFEBVRE · 26th April 2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I forgot to mention, if this is that rare, I got it for exorbitant sum of 5 portions. Not bad at all. Tim

I think it's really rare Tim, I never saw any other that yours ! Except the one in the book.
Very Good purchase.
Luc

22nd April 2006, 08:09 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Ingassana, throwing blade. While playing in the sunshine today I came across this throwing knife blade. Quite heavy 58cm from tip to tip average thickness 4mm. I think it is possibly Ingassana, southern Sudan. It was very rusty. It appears never to have had a handle. Although it is tempered/hardened it may have just represented currency. Presumably the decoration has some meaning "look out here comes trouble ". Freddy showed something similar some years ago with a cloth wrap handle. I do not think that would work with this example. It is the snake form I have read about. I also got a spear today, how lucky I am. Will post that next. Tim Attached Images

23rd April 2006, 09:57 PM	#2
Wodimi Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 75	Hello Tim, what you have is, if Jan Elsen is right, a sickle knife from DRC. You found it among the Meje and Makere, living at the upper Aruwimi and Rubi. It has normal a handle of wood or also ivory. Both typs of Ingessana throwing knifes are showing on the attached picture. Wolf Attached Images

24th April 2006, 12:22 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	This is a page from Jan Elsen's Tribal Arms Monographs. Did I do well the luck of the devil I have number 2. Attached Images

23rd April 2006, 10:11 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks Wolf, great name by the way. I think you are right I been looking in Zirngibl's Afrikanische Waffen and seen smaller knives with the very same shape. What a shame this does not have an ivory handle, as you can see the tang is untouched, must be currency. Tim

24th April 2006, 09:14 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I forgot to mention, if this is that rare, I got it for exorbitant sum of 5 portions. Not bad at all. Tim