Knobkerrie but not sure of from where

Kmaddock · 21st July 2021, 10:30 AM

Hi
Just picked this up.

Not Zulu as the head tapers on to the handle gently as opposed to where the shaft is squared off to the head on Zulu examples

long at 32 inch and the ball is only around 2 inches in diameter
wood is V v dense and it sinks like a stone in water

so I think somewhere between Northern south Africa and Mali but the timber density might help narrow down a bit

any other ideas

Regards

Ken

David R · 21st July 2021, 11:15 AM

Nice piece. Possibly Lignum Vitae?

Tim Simmons · 21st July 2021, 04:35 PM

Looks to me as further north and east. This is an eastern form. The little piece on the top can found from Tanzania/Kenya to the South Sudan.

Kmaddock · 22nd July 2021, 08:38 AM

Thank you both
Would you have any idea as to possible age but I realise there is nothing to go on.
Also are these clubs also called Knobkerries
Regards
Ken

Araña_del_Sol · 23rd July 2021, 11:21 PM

The Swahili word for this type of club is rungu, it is most famously used by the Masai but also by other people groups of Eastern Africa

- ADS

Ian · 24th July 2021, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmaddock

... Also are these clubs also called Knobkerries
Regards
Ken

Hi Ken, yes they are also called knobkerries, a term that seems to date from the early 19th C among English reports.

21st July 2021, 10:30 AM	#1
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 545	Knobkerrie but not sure of from where Hi Just picked this up. Not Zulu as the head tapers on to the handle gently as opposed to where the shaft is squared off to the head on Zulu examples long at 32 inch and the ball is only around 2 inches in diameter wood is V v dense and it sinks like a stone in water so I think somewhere between Northern south Africa and Mali but the timber density might help narrow down a bit any other ideas Regards Ken Attached Images

21st July 2021, 04:35 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,922	Looks to me as further north and east. This is an eastern form. The little piece on the top can found from Tanzania/Kenya to the South Sudan. Attached Images

21st July 2021, 11:15 AM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,134	Nice piece. Possibly Lignum Vitae?

22nd July 2021, 08:38 AM	#4
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 545	Thank you both Would you have any idea as to possible age but I realise there is nothing to go on. Also are these clubs also called Knobkerries Regards Ken

23rd July 2021, 11:21 PM	#5
Araña_del_Sol Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 60	The Swahili word for this type of club is rungu, it is most famously used by the Masai but also by other people groups of Eastern Africa - ADS