Prestige Blade Inspired by a Throwing Knife
Sara, Chad
Forged iron
Early 20th century

This throwing knife comes from the Lake Chad area, which is widely believed to be the birthplace of the African throwing knife. While the Sara dominate this area of flat swamps, this style - with its distinctive hooklet atop the crossbar - comes primarily from the Sara groups known as the Tumak, Miltu, Ndam, Gabéri, and northern Kaba. Being true traditionalists, the Sara long rejected the use of guns, and continued to carry throwing knives well into the 20th century.

This blade is an excellent example of an item whose design comes from a simple, utilitarian origin but evolved into an object of pure of prestige. Being entirely unsharpened on all sides, its value as a functional weapon is minimal. Rather, it represents the ultimate symbol of presitge for an adult Sara man, for whom it would have formed an essential element of an otherwise very simple attire. Westerdijk describes this type of Sara blade as "far less common" and "rather rare" (The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

Published: Lefebvre, Luc, Âmes de formes, Formes de Lames: Armes Blanches D'Afrique Central, 2007.

27.5 in :: 70 cm

InventoryID #13-550

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