Plastic Ansar question

[Mingans Marauders]

On each of the troop spures theres two arms with what looks like a stick, what is it? At first I thought it was a scarbbard or some sort of shield strap, but either seem correct. The other idea was a camel riding crop?

Thanks!

[Johan]

it's a scabbard

[Plynkes]

Do you mean this?



Not a scabbard. Sudanese scabbards are much more substantial than this, and you wouldn't mistake one for a stick. It looks like a stick because it is a stick. A traditional Sudanese weapon, you throw it. Unlike the Australian Aboriginal version they don't tend to come back by themselves, so your dog fetches it for you.

[grant]

Worst. Boomerang. Ever.

[Chuck1372]

Weren't the sticks thrown at cavalry as they charged in the hopes of throwing the rider?

[Mingans Marauders]

Thanks! I was looking though the Armchair General book today a friend loaned me and I happened to see it saying something about a club, but thats even better info!

[Dr Mathias]

I love this site.

[Hussar072]

You learn something new everyday around here

[sukhe_bator]

The Sudanese like their counterparts in desert regions of Gujarat in the Indian subcontinent, as well as their Aboriginal counterparts in Australia, all used the throwing stick to great effect mostly for hunting small game but were also capable of bringing down camels and horses. Known as the 'trombash' or 'bang'
http://www.victorianmilitarysociety.org.uk/index.php/reserach/2012-09-09-11-20-22/archive/63-sudanese-weapons-of-the-late-19th-century

[6sided]

Well, I never knew that.  Have read tons of books about the Sudan as well.

[sukhe_bator]

Must have hurt an Englishman's pride to fight an enemy with Lee-Metfords and machine guns and potentially buy the farm from a native throwing a stick at him!

[ARKOUDAKI]

Great info Plynkes ....I knew it was a stick of some sort....even thought it might be a riding crop of some sorts....and I also thought it was out of scale...however, looking at Plynkes wonderful pics it looks about right!!!!!

[Hildred Castaigne]

Worst. Boomerang. Ever.

Yeah, but it would be ideal for rattling on railings. 

[Timmo]

MM

If you don't have the Perry Sudan book I'd say it's worth getting. The section on the Mahdist appearance is the single best source I've read. The photographs of the actual battlefields are also worth seeing.

[Hello shuke_bator!]

[carlos marighela]

Must have hurt an Englishman's pride to fight an enemy with Lee-Metfords and machine guns and potentially buy the farm from a native throwing a stick at him!

Dunno about you but if I was sitting pretty behind a Maxim gun with some chaps running me 600 yards away armed with a large dog toy I'd be feeling fairly pleased with myself. Putting late Victorian writing with it's depiction of clean limbed, cricketers living by a code of fair play to one side I suspect most contemporary soldiers would have felt the same.

600 metres, dark clump of scrub, 1 o'clock, large groups of blokes milling around wielding sticks. Watch and shoot.