Mahdist Spears ?

Edster · 19th June 2021, 01:28 PM

A Shade Tree Smith is a takeoff on a probably rural Southern US term for a Shade Tree Mechanic who would work on cars, rebuild engines, etc. under the shade of a household tree or other crude shelter rather than have a more formal covered shop with doors, etc. They were competent in a limited range of activities, but their tools were limited as well. Yes, a village smith.

I recall that the spear shaft was of a bamboo-type grass, but solid, not like the typical SE Asia bamboo basically hollow core sections separated by nodes. It's about the only material there that grows long enough, round enough and straight enough to make a spear shaft.

There are several small rivers in Eastern Sudan that drain from the Ethiopian highlands into the two Niles. I got my fishing/hunting/self defence spears in Sennar on the Blue Nile by the bus departure location, likely locally made. There was probably a centralized smithy that specialized in spears and put them out to itinerant sellers who peddled them at area gathering places and markets. The sword & knife makers of Kassala use the same process to retail their products.

Ed

drac2k · 19th June 2021, 01:55 PM

Once again thanks for the information & the insight; too often I concentrate on the form of the spearhead, but fail to consider the material of the shaft when trying to determine its origin.

Edster · 19th June 2021, 06:52 PM

Yep, all of the weapons/tools we consider, as others have observed, exist in/derive from social and cultural contexts. Once these contexts erode they become objects of art that we collectors and students savor, but only partially because mostly we have been denied the contexts.

19th June 2021, 01:28 PM	#1
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 440	A Shade Tree Smith is a takeoff on a probably rural Southern US term for a Shade Tree Mechanic who would work on cars, rebuild engines, etc. under the shade of a household tree or other crude shelter rather than have a more formal covered shop with doors, etc. They were competent in a limited range of activities, but their tools were limited as well. Yes, a village smith. I recall that the spear shaft was of a bamboo-type grass, but solid, not like the typical SE Asia bamboo basically hollow core sections separated by nodes. It's about the only material there that grows long enough, round enough and straight enough to make a spear shaft. There are several small rivers in Eastern Sudan that drain from the Ethiopian highlands into the two Niles. I got my fishing/hunting/self defence spears in Sennar on the Blue Nile by the bus departure location, likely locally made. There was probably a centralized smithy that specialized in spears and put them out to itinerant sellers who peddled them at area gathering places and markets. The sword & knife makers of Kassala use the same process to retail their products. Ed

19th June 2021, 01:55 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,281	Once again thanks for the information & the insight; too often I concentrate on the form of the spearhead, but fail to consider the material of the shaft when trying to determine its origin.

19th June 2021, 06:52 PM	#3
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 440	Yep, all of the weapons/tools we consider, as others have observed, exist in/derive from social and cultural contexts. Once these contexts erode they become objects of art that we collectors and students savor, but only partially because mostly we have been denied the contexts.