Azande weapons

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Does anyone knows, what were these odd thingies weapons of Azande on the pics (see attachment) made from? Wood? Metal? Stone?

[ardbeg]

I've seen some of those several years ago and they were made of metal.
but I don't know if it always the case...

[Plynkes]

They are kpinga throwing knives which were made of iron. They also made ones out of copper that they used as currency, but I doubt our lad would be brandishing one of those in a fight.

[ardbeg]

there is one weapon like this there
http://www.eriksedge.com/weaponsofafrica.html
and there
http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/details/1884.25.2/

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Cool. Thanks, lads!

[Prof.Witchheimer]

just found that kpinga one:

[Plynkes]

I think that's one of those mambeli things, which were swords, rather than throwing knives, but they do look kind of similar. That fellow you painted the other day had one (the one you painted like bone). Until looking into it the other day, I didn't realise they were two different weapon types, I had lumped them together in my mind as 'those crazy-shaped Azande things'.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

well, looks like, the Azande were really creative in fabrication of crazy-shaped things

[ardbeg]

sometimes I wonder how they manage to not hurt themselves with those things 

[Driscoles]

The true inventors of the boomerang

[Plynkes]

Looking through my folder of Africa stuff pinched from the web over the years I found these two pics of Azande shields that might be of interest.





Much more black and less brown than on most of the Foundry-painted ones. I like the look.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Much more black and less brown than on most of the Foundry-painted ones. I like the look.

Me too. Thanks, I'll try to paint similar patterns on my shields on coming weekend.

[Gluteus Maximus]

Much more black and less brown than on most of the Foundry-painted ones. I like the look.

The brown is much darker than the shade I've been using 

Hopefully it is because of the effects of aging and nice new ones would have been a pale khaki-ish shade.

Those pics appear to be the same shield, back and front views. If so it's interesting (and very inconvenient) that the design is on both sides. Unlike mine.

 Mind you, I wouldn't like to try and copy that design in 28mm. Mine are much simpler. And, obviously wrong

[Plynkes]

You're right, it's two sides of the same shield I think. And even the part with the handle is covered with its own set of tiny, infuriating-to-paint designs.

Dare you to paint those on yours! 

[archangel1]

Looks like the pattern is woven into the shield, rather than painted on.  It appears to be in exactly the same position on both sides.  That should really tax your painting skills!