Zulu Iwisa - a gift from my aunt

[johnny.k]

Friends,

I'm new to this forum, just finding it tonight whilst attempting to learn about what i believe to be a zulu iwisa I was given from my aunt.  She says it was purchased from a scottish estate sale at a castle several years ago. my aunt is not available at this time, so i  cant ask the details, but i will, eventually. i've been conducting some research myself, but there's not much online past a basic identification.

  my initial thought is that it's a zulu war bring back and has sat in the same place until sold.  if i can reasonably date it, i'd like to put it up with my martini henrys.  the wood is very hard, but i cant identify it.  it also looks to have shrunk a small bit, allowing the copper band to slide up and there are a few cracks in the striking head. the head also has a small flat, as if someone wanted to keep it from rolling along the wall.  the shaft has some curvature, most likely from hanging on a wall for a bit. 

i've been told that some can identify the make and period by the copper braids and the shape.  if anyone can help, i'd be grateful.  the club means a lot to me, coming as a gift from my aunt and there's few that even know what it is, much less knowledgeable of the object.

best regards,  johnny

[Brian Wolfe]

Hi Johnny,

Welcome to the forum. You indeed have a Zulu fighting club known as a Knobkerie or (as you know) also called an Iwsia. Our late club member Mervyn Mitton wrote extensively on Zulu weaponry and his work can be found on another section of the forum.  I would think it would go very well with your Martini Henry and would have no hesitation in displaying them together.

Regards

Brian

[johnny.k]

thanks Brian.  I did search the site before posting and found volumes of information.  i didn't find the specific answer to my question, but i am much "smarter" on knobkeries! 

cheers!

johnny

[peter monahan]

Missing Mervyn already!  he would undoubtedly have had something useful to say about this lovely piece.

[Paul R]

Mervyn is who immediately came to mind when I saw this thread.  He would have been all over this one.  

This is an awesome gift.  I wish I had your relatives!

[johnny.k]

i think it was payback for a stuffed antelope i gave her years ago.  she would't say so, but i get the feeling she wanted to return the favor.