African(?) Paddle/Spoon with Knife?

CourseEight · 26th April 2010, 01:59 AM

Another oddity I got a while ago. OAL 35". Wooden with a small, sharp but crudely made knife in the end of it. The "ferrule" looks to be made from an old tin/aluminium can. My questions are: Is ths indeed African? It isn't hollowed out like a spoon; is it a paddle of some kind? Is it for local use or touristic? As always, any advice is appreciated!

--Radleigh

Martin Lubojacky · 26th April 2010, 09:38 AM

Hello,
I am of the opinion it is of African origin, not made for tourists and (despite aluminium) not very contemporary (I would say it could be even 30 - 40 years old) - and also it is not tribal item. In some African countries (e.g. Ethiopia) chiefs/leaders of various armed groups (either regular or irregular, also private guardians etc.) used to wear such half meter long sticks with secret knife as a supplement of clothes and sign of certain supremacy.But te form of paddle I can see for the first time (by the way, it

Martin Lubojacky · 26th April 2010, 09:41 AM

sorry for interruption
....evokes certain form of horse-rider´s switch.
Regards,
Martin

CourseEight · 27th April 2010, 11:28 PM

Thanks a lot for the info! Any idea what the marking may mean?

Martin Lubojacky · 28th April 2010, 09:06 AM

I am afraid this will nobody know exactly - it is private marking, it could be anything - from ordinary K to amharic letter "soft" S

26th April 2010, 01:59 AM	#1
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	African(?) Paddle/Spoon with Knife? Another oddity I got a while ago. OAL 35". Wooden with a small, sharp but crudely made knife in the end of it. The "ferrule" looks to be made from an old tin/aluminium can. My questions are: Is ths indeed African? It isn't hollowed out like a spoon; is it a paddle of some kind? Is it for local use or touristic? As always, any advice is appreciated! --Radleigh Attached Images

26th April 2010, 09:38 AM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	Hello, I am of the opinion it is of African origin, not made for tourists and (despite aluminium) not very contemporary (I would say it could be even 30 - 40 years old) - and also it is not tribal item. In some African countries (e.g. Ethiopia) chiefs/leaders of various armed groups (either regular or irregular, also private guardians etc.) used to wear such half meter long sticks with secret knife as a supplement of clothes and sign of certain supremacy.But te form of paddle I can see for the first time (by the way, it

26th April 2010, 09:41 AM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	sorry for interruption ....evokes certain form of horse-rider´s switch. Regards, Martin

27th April 2010, 11:28 PM	#4
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	Thanks a lot for the info! Any idea what the marking may mean?

28th April 2010, 09:06 AM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	I am afraid this will nobody know exactly - it is private marking, it could be anything - from ordinary K to amharic letter "soft" S