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TERMINOLOGY

 

ADZE - A blade often based on a woodworking tool that consists of a solid handle (wood, horn, ivory), with a blade attached at the top. An adze has a blade with a horizontal orientation, perpendicular with the handle (as opposed to an axe which has a blade with a vertical orientation).

 

ANCHOR - A component found on some southern-style throwing knives that projects outward from the stem between the crown and spur. 

 

AXE - A blade often based on a woodworking tool that consists of a solid handle (wood, horn, ivory), with a blade attached at the top. An axe has a blade with a vertical orientation, similar to the handle (as opposed to an adze which has a blade with a horizontal orientation).

 

BRIDGE - A component of southern-style throwing knives (not always present) that connects the stem to the wing and crown. The bridge shown here is pierced and incised. 

 

BUTT - Often simply the bottommost part of the knife, the furthest from the blade. But sometimes more specifically, the element at the bottom of the knife that prevents the hand from sliding down, off the handle or grip. 

 

CHAPE – A metal piece at the bottom of a scabbard / sheath that protects the tip of the blade and often holds two pieces of the scabbard together.

 

CROSSBAR - The element from a Northern F-style throwing knife that extends horizontally from the stem. The top branch is above and the stem, butt, and grip are below. 

 

CROWN - The upper part of a southern-style throwing knife that typically extends above the stem. The wing is below and the spur is further below. 

 

EAR - An appendage found on the bottom of a spur on some southern-style throwing knives. 

 

GRIP - Materials (woven or coiled or wrapped) added at the place on a knife where it is designed to be held in the hand. Typically composed of non-rigid materials such as vegetal fiber, leather, and textiles. 

 

HANDLE - The place on a knife where it is designed to be held in the hand. Typically composed of rigid materials such as wood, ivory, or metal. 

 

LIP - An upward-pointing appendage on southern throwing knives between the wing and crown. On northern throwing knives, it describes an upward-pointing appendage on the ccrossbar. 

 

NORTHERN-STYLE THROWING KNIFE - A category of throwing knives from northern Sub-Saharan Africa that is generally tall and often designed in a reverse-F design. Compared to southern-style throwing knives, northern knives are generally longer and simpler. 

 

SCABBARD - A protective case for a blade, but one that is made with a rigid construction, out of materials such as wood and metal. A sheath is also a protective case for a blade, but one made of less rigid materials. 

 

SHEATH - A protective case for a blade, but one that is made with a semi-rigid construction, out of materials such as leather or vegetal fiber. A scabbard is also a protective case for a blade, but one made of more rigid materials. 

 

SOUTHERN-STYLE THROWING KNIFE - A category of throwing knives from central Sub-Saharan Africa that is generally composed of three elements emanating from the stem: crown, spur, and wing. Compared to northern-style throwing knives, southern knives are generally more compact and complex. 

 

SPINE - The unsharpened and often squared side of a blade, opposite the sharp edge. 

 

SPUR - The bottom-most appendage on a Southern throwing knife. Typically smaller than the crown and wing, which are placed above the spur. 

 

STEM - The primary vertical centerpiece of a blade, off of which other components emanate (crossbar, crown, spur, wing, etc.).

 

TOP BRANCH - The upper part of a northern-style throwing knife that extends above the crossbar. 

 

WING - The appendage extending left of the stem in a southern-style throwing knife. The crown is above/right and the spur is below. Reverse for left-handed throwing knives.