Old Turkana Fighting Wrist Knife – Ararait – Kenya

Hand wroughtiron covered with a thin strip of leather; copper. Cm. 11,5 high (4.53″); grams 65,9 (2.32 oz.). Excellent conditions. The knife has not been cleaned in order to preserve its patina.

Normally these knives are circular. The elongated shape of the blade is quite rare.

“The Turkana are thefinest fighting men in East Africa”, so, without so many preambles, Mr.Crampton defined his subjects when he was appointed a politacal officer inTurkanaland. He is echoed by Elisabeth M. Thomas when she describes them as“having a reputation for an extreme rapacious bravery” and again as“exceptionnally fearless”.

m24