Sasha spear point 1940's?

M

mike draper

Joined
Nov 20, 1999
Messages
88
I have recently recieved an order for a spear point. The man whom ordered the knife told me a story about a man from the 1940's by the name of Sasha. He was suposedly famous for killing many Jaguar with only this spear point,wich, was said to be 20" to 30" inches overall length.
Anyone out there have any information on this man or the Spear Point that he used? I would appreaciate any info. before I make the Spear, please? Thank you in advance.
Audra Draper
 
Hi Mike,

Your customer is no doubt a Peter Hathaway Capstick fan. In "Death In The Silent Places" he tells of Sasha Seimel, who hunted jaguar with a spear. Good reading.

Nick
 
:
I have read some stories about the spears used to hunt Jaguar in S.America and have seen some pictures.
Most were of heavy bronze and had a large crosspiece at the bottom of the blade.Without this guard the Jaguar would and could still slide down the spear and kill the person holding it.

The heavy shaft butt was braced against the ground when the Jaguar sprung and was guided to impale the beast.
We have two of them at our zoo and it is an animal that I would prefer not to come across with such a spear.I have never heard of a sperpoint knife used to hunt these animals.It is a different story with the N.American Cougar or Mountain Lion.



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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

If you mix milk of magnesia with vodka and orange juice do you get a phillips screwdriver?

Khukuri FAQ


 
Thanks Nick, this customer sent detailed drawings of a spear point, that he wants made out of 300+ layer damascus, with plans of hunting bear with it...I dunno... Whats wrong with this picture!? The book sounds intresting... The hunt, well...

Mike @ Audra
 
Mike,
Chetchat is correct. I have read the story about a hundred times. Sasha used dogs to distract the jaguar (sometimes maneaters) until he moved in for the kill. Capstick has some pictures of him in the book. One is of an actual fight. I think there may be one of him with his spear also. I would go and get it but my wife would kill me if I woke her up. She's a lot meaner than a jaguar when she's tired.
smile.gif
Ever since I read it, I have been enamored with spear hunting. I have a burning desire to buy a Boar Spear from Cold Steel and use it bear hunting. From your last post I take it that I'm not the only idiot who wants to do it. Hopefully I will wake up before I try that stupid fantasy. Capstick also talks about his own experiences guiding in South America and even tells of his own stunt spear hunting Cape Buff. I've read that he had a flair for the exaggeration, but he sure had a way of making you turn the pages. Jeff Randall might have some ideas about what types of spears they use down there. How about it Jeff? Any good spear stories? Let me know if you want any info from the book Mike. I would be happy to look it up. Let us know what the final design is and how about posting a picture of it. Who knows, you may cut into Cold Steel's business. No pun intended. While we're on the subject, does anyone know what finally did old Capstick in? I've tried to find out but haven't had any luck.

Take care, (AND a big knife)
Jim

[This message has been edited by HUNTER3897 (edited 29 December 1999).]
 
Yvsa,

Hi! From what I recall of the tale, Sasha's technique was the same re: using a crosspiece.

"Death In The Silent Places" starts with the maneaters of Tsavo (seen the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness"?). If the story wasn't true, I would think it a poor work of fiction, as it shows how much delight Murphy has in destroying man's best laid plans - in this case, to kill a pair of lions who have taken to nibbling on workers building a railroad in the West African jungle. Hilariously tragic.
smile.gif


Like Jim, I read and reread these stories - loaned them to a hunting friend long since moved away. Thanks to this thread, am going to Amazon.com to reorder the lot - so I appreciate the memory jog!

Nick

PS - Jim, best I know Capstick died in South Africa early 1996.



[This message has been edited by chetchat (edited 30 December 1999).]
 
I'll think of something witty to post here later, but in the meantime it's just a double post
smile.gif



[This message has been edited by chetchat (edited 30 December 1999).]
 
Thanks Guys!
I am on my way to the book store, Hopefully can find the book in town, really don't want to wait the three or four days to get it mailed. Sounds really interesting. I will be making a wooden model of the knife, to get an idea for how big this thing really is going to be! I need to give the man a estimate for the cost to build. I will try to post a photo of the finished spear! (along with the aproxamate cost!) Well back to the forge, this is going to take a bit of damascus. I am a bit behind on my orders so It will probably be a month or two before I start the Spear. Thank you all for your help!! Audra
 
The man you were refering to was Sasha (Alexander) Siemen. he was of Russian origin and lived in the Southwestern part of Brazil. He learned how to hunt onças (big leopards) with a spear
(zagaia or azagaia)like the natives did and become a very famous hunter. He was also a gunsmith and mechanic and his habilities with machines - from sewing machines to mills - were highly apreciated in the distant place he lived.
He wrote a biography, "Tigrero", wich is very interesting to read, but very hard to find. I have seen just one, and it was in Spanish language. In this book, you can see a complete sequence of pictures showing him hunting an onça with a spear.

Ivan Campos
retired custom knife dealer - but still have many knives to get rid of!
 
Hey Nick,
Have you read Capstick's tale of P.J. Pretorious. I've read that one a hundred times and it never gets boring. I have almost all of Capstick's books and one of his video's. If you haven't read The African Adventurers yet I highly recommend it. It's along the same line as Death in the Silent Places. Thanks for the info on his death. Does anyone know what did him in?

Take care, (AND a big knife)
Jim

P.S. I gotta ask Nick, what does Chetchat mean?
 
Hi Jim,

Yup, read about P.J. - guy had to be the toughest, most determined son-of-a-gun I've read about!

"Chetchat" is a hybrid from my ESPN Hockey chatting days - just sorta stuck
smile.gif


I went by Amazon.com this morning, gonna wait 'til after the weekend and order a baker's dozen of the Capstick hardback volumes; I've read most of his "Death In..." books, but it's been a while.

How were the videos? I'm tempted to order them.

I'll do an archive search for info on Capstick's death, let ya know.


See ya,

Nick

 
Thanks again for the info, my wife Audra went to the library, checked out a couple of Capstick's books and has been curled up in the recliner next to the fireplace,(she said she was researching this subject) reading, laughing to herself, sharing bits and pieces of Capsticks wit and humor... it would appear that the billet of damascus will just have to wait..

Mike
 
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