Poachers Paraphernalia

[Boela]

Good day all,

I came across a small group of poachers hunting on private land the weekend and during the process of chasing them off, I recovered a decorated Knob Kierie (Used to hit and kill any caught animal). I also recovered a Okapi folding knife during a previous incident with a poacher.
If there is any AH member that would like some authentic African Poachers paraphernalia to decorate their trophy room with, give me shout.

Regards,
Boela.

 

[Sika98k]

I love the look of the knobkerrie.

 

[Pheroze]

That's actually a very cool idea.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Did you test the Knobkerrie and see if it worked?

 

[Boela]

@ Brickburn, after reading your post regarding the Rhino Rangers I am sincerely regretting that I did not put that kierie to good use....

 

[BRICKBURN]

That post really does illustrate how the benefits of legal hunting have to enter the community or the organized criminals are going to have an advantage.

 

[CAustin]

@Boela is the Knob weighted at the wrapped end with a rock or something?

 

[thriller]

If your trying to get rid of it I could be interested what do you want for it?

 

[siml]

@Boela , these gin traps from the poachers also make great lamp shades. Open the teeth slightly and weld tight.

 

[Rob404]

The knife is interesting whats the price

 

[Boela]

@CAustin : A knob kierie gets carved from a single piece of wood. A branch is selected, normally from a hardwood tree, where another grows 90 degrees or as close as possible to the angle from it. It is then cut to form a rough T. The trunk of the tree forms the tick, short top en of the T and the branch the longer downward part of the T. The top end of the T then gets shaped round by hand. You eventually end up with a thin stick with a knob on the end (I hope you can more or less understand what I am trying to explain). This specific one has had artwork done on it by the previous owner - thin colored electrical wire was braded around it, that in itself is quite a art for it is a real tight fit and am I quite baffled at how they managed to incorporate the colors. This traditional way of making knob kieries are also disappearing due to the youngsters preferring to select a 1" stick and simply adding a huge steel nut to one end to produce more or less the same kind of weapon. A lot less effort goes into making one of these crude weapons.

@TMS : Wow, that is what nightmares are made of! I have personally never seen a gin trap of that size! Is it at all possible to get one out of Mozambique? Will it be possible for me to negotiate with you to get one from you? I would love to have one on display myself (Richards Bay).

@thriller & @Rob404 : I would happily part with either one of these items by donating them to someone that is interested in them. Please PM me your contact details and I will happily post them to you.

 

[siml]

@Boela , I bring back all the gin traps every season no @#$%$ way would I leave them with anyone in Moz, you know what would happen to them. You welcome to have some.

I have some even bigger, takes at least 3-5 grown men to set one of the traps.

 

[Boela]

@TMS, thank you so much, it is appreciated. Are you currently in Mozambique or RSA? I will contact you directly if / when in South Africa.

 

[siml]

I flew back Sunday night, will be in SA a few days and then head back to Moz. I have a bunch of gents from Richards bay that run their bird dogs on my place, can send you 2 with them or if you ever in Harrismith.

 

[CAustin]

@Boela thank you for the explanation!

 

[spekieries]

Boela I grew up in RB. That wire we called scooby-dooby wire when we were in school. It is the covered copper wire in telephone cables. The Zulu's are masters in plating these wires. We arrived in RB in 1970. That was 4 years before they started building the harbour. In those days there was a thriving open aired market were anything was sold. Here the old Khetla's was selling assegaai's (Mkonto) from re-bar.The often sat there at the market plating the scooby- dooby to reinforce the area where the round re bar entered the wooden handle of the assegaai.

For interest sake in 1975 one of my fellow rugby players in primary school was caught by a croc in the canal between Meerensee and Arboretum we where 13 -14 years old and in standard 5 . We practiced rugby during the holiday on the municipal grounds in Meerensee.(Next to the current golf course) After practice he walked back to Arboretum. On his way being hot and humid he took a swim where the Umzingazi river enters the canal. That was where the croc took him.

I collect "knopkieries" and if that one has no boss I will gladly accept it. The zulu fighting sticks were usually made from the wood of a umzimbihtwa tree. In Afrikaans "Omsambeet" - Milletia Grandis. This wood which is a hardwood and gives the ideal balance between hardness and flexibility so it wont break when you " Bliksem " somebody.

Sorry did not want to high jack. Got carried away!

 

[cpr0312]

@thriller & @Rob404 : I would happily part with either one of these items by donating them to someone that is interested in them. Please PM me your contact details and I will happily post them to you.

Very very nice gesture @Boela !

 

[Sand Rat]

@Boela , these gin traps from the poachers also make great lamp shades. Open the teeth slightly and weld tight.View attachment 160817

Simon, any way to get a couple of the large gin traps to Hunters and Collectors in PE? I have a shipment currently waiting on one more permit before it sets sail. Just let me know what the postage would be.
Thanks
Robert

 

[siml]

@Sand Rat , I will find out for you..............do you want the extra large Hillary trap?

 

[Sand Rat]

Damm right!