Congo scarification knife... which Tribe?

Tim Simmons · 8th June 2006, 07:20 PM

Hi David,

Why do you call this a scarification knife? to me it very non-knife like. There is a thread somewhere, that has pictures of the process. This looks more like a currency unit. I think it is a very nice little item but has nothing to do with scarification. I will see with my limited abilities if I can bring the thread forward.

katana · 8th June 2006, 08:22 PM

Thanks Tim, this item, was sold to me as a scarification knife, I have seen something similar use to scarify tribal members (in Africa) during a documentary.
I do not have the item, as yet, so really cannot comment further. However, once I receive it, handling it may provide further answers.

nechesh · 8th June 2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Hi David,

Why do you call this a scarification knife? to me it very non-knife like. There is a thread somewhere, that has pictures of the process. This looks more like a currency unit. I think it is a very nice little item but has nothing to do with scarification. I will see with my limited abilities if I can bring the thread forward.

Hey Tim, you my well be right as i know little about this, but isn't scarification tradition to several African (as well as Australian aboriginal) cultures. The knife used by different cultures might very well be different, so i'm not sure the pictures in the thread you speak of necessarily knock this example out of the catagory. Knife-like or not, if it is sharp and pointy it can probably do the job.

Tim Simmons · 8th June 2006, 09:36 PM

That may well be the case. I would imagine the process is rather intimate and requires some delicacy and if not precision quick and decisive cuts so looking at the example shown to us it looks more like a butchers tool

.

nechesh · 8th June 2006, 09:46 PM

Did you note that it is only 11.5 cm long? That would make the blade section less than 4 cm. Not really all that large. AFAIK the process is often done by pulling up the flesh with a hook-like implement and then slicing the flesh.

I would say that if this "knife" is sharp enough it could well do the job.

Flavio · 8th June 2006, 10:06 PM

Hello, this is for sure a blade for scarification. Attached is a picture from Fischer/Zirngibl Afrikanishe Waffen were you can see a similar blade like the one of Katana. I have also a book in Italian where there is a very similar example and tomorrow i will post a picture (unfortunatly is only attribuited to Congo in general no tribe, but it was collected in 1907).

katana · 8th June 2006, 10:10 PM

Thats fantastic, thanks for the info. Flavio

, looking forward to seeing the other picture.

8th June 2006, 10:06 PM	#6
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello, this is for sure a blade for scarification. Attached is a picture from Fischer/Zirngibl Afrikanishe Waffen were you can see a similar blade like the one of Katana. I have also a book in Italian where there is a very similar example and tomorrow i will post a picture (unfortunatly is only attribuited to Congo in general no tribe, but it was collected in 1907). Attached Images

8th June 2006, 07:20 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Hi David, Why do you call this a scarification knife? to me it very non-knife like. There is a thread somewhere, that has pictures of the process. This looks more like a currency unit. I think it is a very nice little item but has nothing to do with scarification. I will see with my limited abilities if I can bring the thread forward.

8th June 2006, 08:22 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thanks Tim, this item, was sold to me as a scarification knife, I have seen something similar use to scarify tribal members (in Africa) during a documentary. I do not have the item, as yet, so really cannot comment further. However, once I receive it, handling it may provide further answers.

8th June 2006, 09:36 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	That may well be the case. I would imagine the process is rather intimate and requires some delicacy and if not precision quick and decisive cuts so looking at the example shown to us it looks more like a butchers tool .

8th June 2006, 09:46 PM	#5
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Did you note that it is only 11.5 cm long? That would make the blade section less than 4 cm. Not really all that large. AFAIK the process is often done by pulling up the flesh with a hook-like implement and then slicing the flesh. I would say that if this "knife" is sharp enough it could well do the job.

8th June 2006, 10:10 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thats fantastic, thanks for the info. Flavio , looking forward to seeing the other picture.