Item:
ON9599

Original Victorian Era Zulu War Knobkierie with Full Length Woven Wire Binding

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the classic ZULU Warrior's knobkerrie battle club.

This example measures 29" overall and is carved from one piece of hardwood. The round war head is just 2" in diameter. The haft is totally steel wire bound, and probably carried by an Impi Officer. A legendary weapon, original examples of which are becoming very hard to find. A very upmarket knobkerrie for a ZULU Impi leader that was brought home to England as a "war trophy" by some red jacketed British Infantryman who was very grateful to return in one piece.

To think these Zulu knobkerries and Zulu spears were what the Martini Henry equipped soldiers were facing. Says a lot for the bravery of the Zulus warriors!

Impi is a Zulu word for any armed body of men. However, in English it is often used to refer to a Zulu regiment, which is called an ibutho in Zulu. Its beginnings lie far back in historic tribal warfare customs, when groups of armed men called impis battled. They were systematized radically by the Zulu king Shaka, who was then only the exiled illegitimate son of king Senzangakona, but already showing much prowess as a general in the army of Mthethwa king Dingiswayo in the Mthethwa-Ndwandwe war in the early 1810s.

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