eBay updates

Didn't do as well as I'd hoped to...

I ended up winning three knives: A WWI era Gurkha kukri knife from Nepal, a contemporary Tuareg dagger, and an interesting handmade WWII theater knife. Prices ended up being on the lower side, which is a good thing. I may end up selling the WWII knife and possibly the kukri - I'll have to see how it compares to my other kukri.

I was outbid on these items (I am proving a link to the completed auctions; I'm not sure how long they will be available):

1. A unique spearhead from Tanzania with an interesting socket (appears to be made from a coil of steel). Sold for $34. I lowered my bid to $25 because I wasn't terribly impressed with it.
2. Another Central African harpoon, with a more elongated shape. Work was a little rough. Sold for $47. I was the second highest bidder on this one.
3. A sturdy Ethiopian spear head from the Danakil Depression. Similar to this one, but more robust and less ornate. Sold for about $150, which I imagine is probably about what it's worth.
4. A Central African Tetela spear blade. An old, used piece, but still very nice and with a striking configuration. Sold for $55.
5. Another Yakoma spear from Central Africa. Sold for about $200.
6. Another Mossi spear from Burkina Faso. Blade's been bent and repaired. Sold for a very high $80.
7. A Filipino dagger from the early 20th century. Nice configuration, with a restored pommel. Sold for a reasonable $45.
8. A Finnish puukko knife with a damaged sheath. Knife itself is in great shape. Sold for $40.
9. A Gurkha kukri knife similar to the one I purchased. Sold for $55.
10. Another kukri, plainer but better constructed than the first. Sold for $65.
11. A third kukri, a British Mark 1 used in WWI. Sold for a very high $330. One of the most collectible kukris.
12. Lastly, someone beat me to this Central African (Mongo?) arrow.

A bident spearhead from Ethiopia, Africa

Here is another spearhead from Ethiopia. This piece has an unusual bident configuration, with paired willow-leaf shaped points diverging from a shared base. Otherwise, it shares many characteristics with the more conventional spear I described in my last post. Both spears are decorated with a checkerboard design of alternating sections of bare metal and oxide. The top and bottom of the socket is decorated with a band of bare metal, as is what I guess would be the ricasso? This point has the same long socket and willow-leaf shaped blade (blades, in this case). The twin blades have strong midribs with concave areas left coated with dark-colored oxide.

This spear has no functional value (I'm sure you could find a utilitarian use for a forked spear, but this particular piece is too light and not well-designed for hunting or martial use.) This spear, too, may be more of a cultural item. There's always a temptation to label an unusual item a "ceremonial" piece (read: "I don't know what this is"). This one might actually have some symbolic value: I doubt I still have the PDF, but I once read a paper by a Swedish author describing various bident spears from Africa, all of which had symbolic value.

Like the other Ethiopian point, this is not particularly well-made, but appears to be at first glance. Overall, the shape is trim and elegant. Although the points are needle-sharp, the edges are blunted, which generally indicates a tourist-art origin. A small bit of sprue is left in the area between the prongs. Would have been used with a6-7' hardwood or possibly bamboo shaft. I hope to pair this with a cane shaft in the near future. There's a small, 1/8" hole (neatly drilled) near the base of the ferrule for a pin. Another interesting feature shared by both spears is a neat "hem" of sorts at the base of the ferrule. Instead of ending in a ragged or chisel-cut edge, the material is turned on itself for about 1/4". Makes for a neat, tidy appearance.

Length (overall): About 15".

Length (blades/points): About 7 1/4".

Length (other dimensions): Socket is about 5 1/4".

Width at widest point (blade/point): About 2" across the prongs at the widest point.

Width (other dimensions): Base of points (ricasso?) about 1".

Materials: A lightweight piece of steel. Object has a dirty, dusty appearance (would benefit from a light cleaning). The steel is not high-quality and was probably recycled from scrap materials. The ferrule or socket is long, with an opening slightly less than 1".

I remember seeing a similar spear on display at the Houston Museum of Natural History's Lucy exhibit several years ago. A conventional and bident spear were on display, which leads me to believe they were acquired together. The patchwork design seems diagnostic for Ethiopian spearheads, although it's probably found on Somali points as well. I've passed up opportunities to obtain Ethiopian arrows, quivers, etc (were not particularly high quality). This is the last of the Ethiopian items I'll be describing.

A spearhead from Ethiopia, Africa

Up next is a nice, slim spearhead from Ethiopia. It has a narrow, willow-leaf shape and a long socket or ferrule decorated with a patchwork design. The blade has a strong midrib, with concave areas left coated with dark-colored oxide. I don't think it's necessarily a utilitarian item - it is thin and light and would not stand up to much serious use. It may be more of a cultural item, from an area where men habitually carry spears yet rarely use them.

Although the piece is not necessarily well-made, it certainly looks like it was. Overall, the shape is trim and elegant. The strong midrib and bare metal/oxide decoration make for a dramatic appearance (much like the Tutsi spearhead I described last weekend). Another interesting decorative feature is the patchwork or checkerboard design of oxide and metal created by removing areas of oxide. The nice, long ferrule is a strong, functional element. The edges are blunted, which generally indicates a tourist-art origin. Would have been used with a 6-7' hardwood or possibly bamboo shaft. I hope to pair this with a cane shaft in the near future. There's a small hole near the base of the ferrule for a pin.

Length (overall): About 17".

Length (blade/point): About 10 1/4".

Length (other dimensions): Socket is a little over 6".

Width at widest point (blade/point): About 1 1/4".

Width (other dimensions):

Materials: A lightweight piece of steel. Object has a dirty, dusty appearance (would benefit from a light cleaning). A forging flaw is evident on one of the blade's faces. The steel is not high-quality and was probably recycled from scrap materials. The ferrule or socket is long, with an opening slightly less than 1".

I remember seeing a similar spear on display at the Houston Museum of Natural History's Lucy exhibit several years ago. A bident spear was also displayed (I have one I'll be describing shortly). The patchwork design seems diagnostic for Ethiopian spearheads, although it's probably found on Somali points as well.