Turkana wristknife

size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/2"

Classic example as pictured and described on p.115 of "African Arms and Armor" by Christopher Spring:
"The wrist knife is the most well known and widely distributed of all the arm, wrist, and finger weapons. It consists of a disc of metal with a hole in the middle to accomodate the wrist. Both the sharpened outer edge of the blade and the inner edge encircling the wrist are sheathed in thin strips of hide of the same type as those used by the Turkana to sheathe their spears. In fact the Turkana, among whom it is known as ararait, are one of the main users of this weapon, but it is also found among the Dasanech, Nyangatom, Larim, Lokoya, Bari, Murle, Acholi, Karamojong and as far south as the Pokot of Kenya".
Circa late 1800's, early 1900's.

2/20/01