Congo, Currency Throwing Knife, three double-edged blades, one side of shaft decorated, hilt bound with plaited fibre cord, iron, 45.5 x 43.5cm (Quiggin pl.1, 20). Lightly rusted but very fine and a nice example (£200-250)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Macdonald Collection of Primitive Currency.

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Plate II. Quiggin (p.69) suggested that certain throwing knives were originally made for use as currency and their blades later sharpened to form a deadly weapon. Other opinion suggests they originated as weapons capable of cutting a man’s legs off at 20 feet. Eventually considered too dangerous, they were later made and left unsharpened for sole use as currency. The edges on this specimen were clearly well honed