Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

M ELEY · 2nd January 2009, 09:55 PM

Unfortunately, the hilt on this sword is one of those generic pattern artillary hilts found on French, Prussian and Spanish pieces roughly of the period ca.1830-1890. I'm not familiar with any Dutch pieces having this hilt. I thought that the VOC stood for the Dutch East India Company? I'm not familiar with the 'United Dutch East Asia Company', as I assumed after the the East India trading company went under circa 1800, there were no further companies involved? Interesting. So...if this Dutch East Asia Co existed into the 19th century, it could be a real piece. If not and the VOC stands for the earlier company, it has either been re-hilted or is a fake. I guess one other possibility is that someone affectionately inscribed it on a later sword out of found rememberence of the company.
If the VOC marking is attached to a later company (this Asia company you speak of), this might explain why this marking is sometimes found on more 19th century pieces.
Shaver Cool, anyone??

Sorry, Jim! Couldn't resist!!

2nd January 2009, 09:55 PM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Unfortunately, the hilt on this sword is one of those generic pattern artillary hilts found on French, Prussian and Spanish pieces roughly of the period ca.1830-1890. I'm not familiar with any Dutch pieces having this hilt. I thought that the VOC stood for the Dutch East India Company? I'm not familiar with the 'United Dutch East Asia Company', as I assumed after the the East India trading company went under circa 1800, there were no further companies involved? Interesting. So...if this Dutch East Asia Co existed into the 19th century, it could be a real piece. If not and the VOC stands for the earlier company, it has either been re-hilted or is a fake. I guess one other possibility is that someone affectionately inscribed it on a later sword out of found rememberence of the company. If the VOC marking is attached to a later company (this Asia company you speak of), this might explain why this marking is sometimes found on more 19th century pieces. Shaver Cool, anyone?? Sorry, Jim! Couldn't resist!!