Well said Richard, and now that you mention it, the very Sicilian practice of 'vendetta' was indeed something well known to the mafia, though it was more of score 'settling' than something recorded or shown with bravado. Thier activities were traditionally very covert, but well known to the most important figures.
Good point on RAF's Polish fighter pilots, from an extremely proud heritage and they, like many WWII pilots, certainly did display victory tallies. Perhaps since air combat was considered in certain cases very aligned with one on one combat it was somehow likened to chivalry and knightly contest. Much of this I am sure derived from this perspective somewhat romantically applied to the degree of chivalry associated with pilots in WWI and its seemingly distorted application, but while the texture changed, the counting of 'kills' still denominated flying aces. The noses of planes typically in WWII carried tallys of victories, bombing missions, along with modern versions of heraldry and 'nose art'.
Interesting on the tribal use of the tally in New Guinea, and just as with the WWII aviation applications, not directly applied, but certainly pertinant in broader understanding of the concept. Thank you for adding these notes!
Excellente Rico!!! The vendetta, as applied in the old west, bellisimo......and as well noted, Tombstone and the Earp vs. Clanton factions......Kilmer was brilliant as the famous gun toting dentist!!! Huckleberry THIS .....!!!
That puts us back into context, and in the concurrent thread on armor in the wild west.....did Wyatt use any kind of bulletproof appliance or clothing?
The jury's still out,
All the best,
Jim