19th century, from the slave trade. Iron, 21 ½” height with curved leaf shaped blades, line bordered with rudimentary decoration, in three aspects. Wood grip with copper trade wire wrap. See Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor, Stone, fig.786 #6 and #7 for this form. As battlefield weapons, these were thrown at a low trajectory to inflict disabling wounds allowing for capture. Tribal warfare in the Congo was specifically for the purpose of the capture of slaves. There are records of slaves who survived disabling capture wounds and as unfit to work in the fields, were sold to serve as domestics. Rare.
