Cold Steel – Assegai Iklwa Spear – Short Shaft

This short Assegai by Cold Steel has a sharpened spearhead of SK-5 Medium Carbon steel. This type of steel was used for this spear because it will aid the thin spearhead in subtly flexing under impact to avoid breaking. The spearhead has been blackened and it fits alongside the shaft on its back. The short shaft is made of stained and varnished ash wood.

The spear comes with a protective Secure-Ex sheath of hard tactical impact plastic with an added nylon retaining strap. This short Assegai ships unassembled – the head is secured to the spear shaft with a pair of wood screws – these screws are included.

It was Shaka of the Zulu who shortened the long Assegai spear to make a shorter version, often termed an Iklwa. The spear became a stabbing and cutting weapon not unlike a long-handled short sword. Shaka taught the Zulu to fight as a group and to use their shields offensively to hook the inside of an opponents shield and pull it aside, leaving him open for the quick serpent-like strike of the short Zulu weapon. These new fighting tactics caught the tribal enemies of the Zulu off-guard and allowed them to expand the Zulu lands.

The Iklwa was supposedly named after the sound it made as it was pulled from the body of a defeated enemy.

Please Note: Our photos show an approximation of the completed weapon – we did not screw the head to the pole, this is why the screws are not present in the photos