Spear ID - Niger or West African?

Martin Lubojacky · 12th February 2013, 11:18 PM

Very interesting spear...Probably from the northern part of Africa - but would Arabian origin be a big nonsense ? (what about heavier kind of javelin with "armour piercing" head ?)
For comparision I enclose some parts of spears from Africa south of Sahara which are a little bit uggestive of this spear:
The iron pointed shoe (or maybe spearhead ?) of square cross-section was bought separately in Addis Ababa (two pictures).
Second from the left on the group photo is thick spearhead of similar shape - allegedly from Chad, but it was bought in Nigeria. 5th from the left, the slender one with two strange square segments, is Shewa Arab spearhead from North-Eastern Nigeria/Kanuri region (if we can believe the vendor...) - .
(Small remark concerning the wiring: There are cases of barrels of long guns held to the stock with very thin iron wire instead of classical cappucines in North Africa - just that the wire was for disposal ...

Iain · 13th February 2013, 10:21 AM

Hi Martin,

I guess Arab is possible? But I thought the decorative style would point against that.

Thanks for sharing your spear heads - very impressive collection.

Number 2 from the left is perhaps the closest in profile. I also must say the 4th from the left is really beautiful!

Thanks for the note about wire - I looked at a few examples and I am more comfortable now about it. It was just not a usual wrapping on spears or other weapons in the Sahel region for me. But I guess it also occurs frequently in jewelry and other items from these regions and is absolutely a normal material.

Martin Lubojacky · 13th February 2013, 12:04 PM

Yet another older threads and link:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/search...earchid=306697
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=javelin
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=javelin
http://www.sailorinsaddle.com/product.aspx?id=879

Iain · 15th February 2013, 03:56 PM

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the links. I'm sure its a javelin for throwing now - having just received it last night.

The light is too poor here for a proper photo, but here's a couple very quick and poor images next to a takouba to give a sense of scale.

Iain · 16th February 2013, 01:04 PM

Did my best with photos today. Not great but hopefully allows for seeing a bit more detail.

12th February 2013, 11:18 PM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Very interesting spear...Probably from the northern part of Africa - but would Arabian origin be a big nonsense ? (what about heavier kind of javelin with "armour piercing" head ?) For comparision I enclose some parts of spears from Africa south of Sahara which are a little bit uggestive of this spear: The iron pointed shoe (or maybe spearhead ?) of square cross-section was bought separately in Addis Ababa (two pictures). Second from the left on the group photo is thick spearhead of similar shape - allegedly from Chad, but it was bought in Nigeria. 5th from the left, the slender one with two strange square segments, is Shewa Arab spearhead from North-Eastern Nigeria/Kanuri region (if we can believe the vendor...) - . (Small remark concerning the wiring: There are cases of barrels of long guns held to the stock with very thin iron wire instead of classical cappucines in North Africa - just that the wire was for disposal ... Attached Images

15th February 2013, 03:56 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Hi Martin, Thanks for the links. I'm sure its a javelin for throwing now - having just received it last night. The light is too poor here for a proper photo, but here's a couple very quick and poor images next to a takouba to give a sense of scale. Attached Images

16th February 2013, 01:04 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Did my best with photos today. Not great but hopefully allows for seeing a bit more detail. Attached Images

13th February 2013, 10:21 AM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Hi Martin, I guess Arab is possible? But I thought the decorative style would point against that. Thanks for sharing your spear heads - very impressive collection. Number 2 from the left is perhaps the closest in profile. I also must say the 4th from the left is really beautiful! Thanks for the note about wire - I looked at a few examples and I am more comfortable now about it. It was just not a usual wrapping on spears or other weapons in the Sahel region for me. But I guess it also occurs frequently in jewelry and other items from these regions and is absolutely a normal material.

13th February 2013, 12:04 PM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Yet another older threads and link: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/search...earchid=306697 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=javelin http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=javelin http://www.sailorinsaddle.com/product.aspx?id=879