Large Throwing / Prestige Knife
Zulgo / Tubu-Daza, Cameroon / Chad / Sudan
Forged iron, rattan, leather, vegetable fiber
Late 19th / early 20th century

Westerdijk describes this type as an "adapted form of an adopted model," meaning that its design was inspired by the throwing knives that spread throughout the Mandara mountains near the convergence of Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria, but was converted into a heavier form than the lighter, flimsier throwing knife types. The borrowing of shapes and the dissemination of types was prevelant in this region, as the casted blacksmiths would produce material for various tribes, which opened the door for the sharing of ideas. 

Westerdijk describes this type as "scarce," "insufficiently documented," and "rarely found in collections" (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988). 

A comparable example was published in Rare African Short Weapons (plate 25), that was collected by Werner Fischer in northern Cameroon (Zirngibl, 1983). 

Mounted on a custom display stand, pictured below.

Published: Lefebvre, Luc. The Throwing Knives: The Northern Knives. 2019. Plate 88.

31 in :: 79 cm

InventoryID #13-1595

Not For Sale