Trumbash

{{Short description|Throwing knife}} thumb|Trumbash with an ivory handle A '''trumbash''' or '''trombash''' is a Mangbetu throwing knife from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

== Uses == Similar to a sickle, the ''trumbash'' was used as a throwing weapon or as currency.<ref>Alfred Mahieu, ''Numismatique du Congo, 1485-1925 : instruments d'échange'', 1925, p.23</ref><ref>''Belgisch tijdschrift voor numismatiek en zegelkunde'', 1922, p.41</ref> The handle is usually made of wood, but it can be made of ivory or bone. It is more or less decorated, according to the rank of its owner and the use that is made of it.<ref>Werner Fischer, Manfred A. Zirngibl, ''African Weapons: Knives, Daggers, Swords, Axes, Throwing Knives'', 1978, p.67</ref> The curved blade is made of iron.

== Gallery == <gallery perrow="6" style="text-align:center;"> File:African Trumbash - Mangbetu curved knife.jpg File:Brooklyn Museum 22.462 Knife Trumbash.jpg File:Trombash Mangbetu.jpg File:Knife - Mangbetu - Royal Museum for Central Africa - DSC06546.JPG File:Knife - Mangbetu - Royal Museum for Central Africa - DSC06545.JPG|Trumbash with an anthropomorphic handle File:Mangbetu knife 2.jpg </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == * Jan Elsen, ''De fer et de fierté, Armes blanches d'Afrique noire du Musée Barbier-Mueller'', 5 Continents Editions, Milan, 2003, {{ISBN|88-7439-085-8}} * Tom Crowley, Andrew Mills, ''Weapons, Culture and the Anthropology Museum'', 2018

Category:Edged and bladed weapons Category:Throwing axes Category:Axes Category:African weapons Category:Daggers Category:Knives Category:Throwing weapons