Assegai Low-poly 3D Model

Beschrijving

An assegai (assagai) is a historical lightweight throwing spear or dart with an iron tip and a wooden shaft, traditionally used by the peoples of Southern and Southeast Africa (particularly the Zulus).

The word "assegai" comes from Portuguese (azagaia), which in turn comes from Arabic (az-zagai meaning spear). However, the peoples who used the assegai did not use this word. For example, the Zulu called a similar weapon an iklwa.
The assegai was typically about 2 meters long. The long, up to 30 cm, tip was made of forged iron and was usually leaf-shaped; other shapes were rarely used. The tip was attached to the shaft using a tang, meaning it was inserted into the shaft with a thin tang specially forged from one end of the blade. The end of the shaft was wrapped with a strip of raw cowhide to prevent splitting. In some cases, the assegai blade was so long that Africans used it as a knife, for example, for butchering cattle. Assegais with serrated blade edges are known, although they were not widespread.

Strong wood was chosen for the shaft. Curtisia was most often used, hence the name "assegai wood." Its wood was resilient but flexible, and even after being treated with fire, it was prone to bending. Therefore, a warrior would usually straighten the assegai immediately before throwing it.