Root ball knobkerrie from a Zulu collection...or is it ?

katana · 16th June 2011, 04:54 PM

Hi,
just got 'hold' of this knobkerrie, made from a rootball. Fantastic old glossy patina with tooling marks. Was told that this came from a collection of Zulu items and is 19th C , the patina certainly seems to support the age....but Zulu ? It was also described as being approx 2kgs in weight !!! That is a hefty 'lump' !! I worked out the density (approx via the photos and measurements) and found it was almost equal to CAST IRON ....now, I have heard that a small number of knobkerries had lead (molten poured into a cavity in the 'knob') and believed that this could explain the 'extreme' weight. So I took a risk and bought it.

When it arrived ......it only weighed approx 500g

....a quarter of the stated weight. It seems that sending items through 'Royal Mail' makes you lose weight.......so forget all these diets, package yourself up and send yourself through the mail (preferably to a warm country) so when you arrive....the new slimmer you can grab a tan ....to compliment the 'new look' you.

......I might even patent the new 'Royal Mail diet'

Disappointed about the weight....but is this possibly Zulu or SA or even African ?

If anyone recognises the wood....it would be a great help.

All comments gratefully received ......any one who wants to use the new 'Royal Mail Diet' PM for prices

Kind Regards David

16th June 2011, 04:54 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Root ball knobkerrie from a Zulu collection...or is it ? Hi, just got 'hold' of this knobkerrie, made from a rootball. Fantastic old glossy patina with tooling marks. Was told that this came from a collection of Zulu items and is 19th C , the patina certainly seems to support the age....but Zulu ? It was also described as being approx 2kgs in weight !!! That is a hefty 'lump' !! I worked out the density (approx via the photos and measurements) and found it was almost equal to CAST IRON ....now, I have heard that a small number of knobkerries had lead (molten poured into a cavity in the 'knob') and believed that this could explain the 'extreme' weight. So I took a risk and bought it. When it arrived ......it only weighed approx 500g ....a quarter of the stated weight. It seems that sending items through 'Royal Mail' makes you lose weight.......so forget all these diets, package yourself up and send yourself through the mail (preferably to a warm country) so when you arrive....the new slimmer you can grab a tan ....to compliment the 'new look' you. ......I might even patent the new 'Royal Mail diet' Disappointed about the weight....but is this possibly Zulu or SA or even African ? If anyone recognises the wood....it would be a great help. All comments gratefully received ......any one who wants to use the new 'Royal Mail Diet' PM for prices Kind Regards David Attached Images