N. Indian Hammer Flail

[Tim Simmons]

I have mentioned before that I have actually stopped collecting. However I came across this today. Out of my comfort zone which is not usually a sensible thing to due. I am confident it is Indian and most probably late 19th century. To me a very difficult weapon to be master of, but if you where skilled in handling within a squad or the right circumstance very intimidating and effective. It is going to take some time to clean up. Will show pics when cleaned.

[Turkoman.khan]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I have mentioned before that I have actually stopped collecting. However I came across this today. Out of my comfort zone which is not usually a sensible thing to due. I am confident it is Indian and most probably late 19th century. To me a very difficult weapon to be master of, but if you where skilled in handling within a squad or the right circumstance very intimidating and effective. It is going to take some time to clean up. Will show pics when cleaned.

Hello Tim.

This is a very strange item...
1) I am very confused by the handle. The place that you need to hold in your hand is very thick and, moreover, expands at the bottom. I think it's very inconvenient.
2) Mounting on a screw is also very unusual for Oriental Arms, in particular for Indian Arms.
3) Large spikes in the form of "pyramids" are also, as far as I remember, not typical of Indian Arms

[Nihl]

Hi Tim, I think you are spot on about this being from the late 19th century. However, because of that, I think it's important to keep in mind that any Indian "weapons" coming from that time period are rarely intended to actually function as such, and are instead near exclusively made for tourists. Consistent bans on weapon making and the practicing of martial arts by the british severely reduced local production of real weapons to only a handful of permitted princely states (most famously those in Rajasthan). As such, most of what was produced in this period was intended to appeal to colonial tourists; seen as "curiosa" that could be potentially added to their personal collection back home. Nowadays I've seen the term "historismus" used to describe these items that vaguely resemble native weapons, but were really intended for display and tourist consumption.

I don't mean to be too harsh in my notes here, or "take the wind out of your sails" as they say, but I think it really is important to have a realistic understanding of these "weapons".

[Tim Simmons]

That is the best I can do without taking metal away . The rest will be done with a rust remover solution. I am happy with your comments. I shall add research that backs things like this were weapons but as with many fine swords and weapons in our collections many if not most were never used as such.

[Tim Simmons]

https://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/weapons/ind...-62/index.html

[Tim Simmons]

https://collections.royalarmouries.o...ject-1589.html

Wealth always has a bearing on the style and quality of weapons used or not.

[Turkoman.khan]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

https://collections.royalarmouries.o...ject-1589.html

Wealth always has a bearing on the style and quality of weapons used or not.

I have no questions about this item from the museum. But the same questions about your item remain...
By the way, about spikes. Look again at the photograph of the spikes on the flail from the museum. They are long and thin. On your subject they are thick and not sharp. Spikes like those on your flail are more suitable for destroying European armor.