MAASAI LION SPEAR

68 1/4” length. Forged iron head with spiral twist to the middle. The socket with white inked “Ed” number and Africa Kenya Masai. Evidently indicating that it was used by an educational department, probably from a missionary society as was the custom. Slender tail piece and original wood grip. These spears were carried by young men who were charged with protecting the cattle upon which the Masai depended, from lions. The technique was to entice the lion to charge with the tail piece of the spear “dug in” and the point directed at the leaping beast which would then be impaled. Obviously, it was necessary to get it right every time. Every youth needed to kill a lion in that way to qualify for warrior status. Excellent condition with good age character and old collection number to the wood.