Manding sword

blue lander · 23rd September 2014, 07:38 PM

I just picked this one up, it seems to be pretty old. The artwork on the scabbard look burned or etched into the leather. I assume the ink they used was acidic and it eventually ate through the leather.

The blade itself is a little strange. It's about as thick as a machete with no distal taper. There's a wide fuller on each side but it's very shallow, you can barely make it out in pictures. The steel itself doesn't look that old.

I don't think it's a recycled military blade. The only clue as to its origins are some waves on the spine of the blade towards the tip. Perhaps these used to be teeth and it was made from an old saw?

VANDOO · 24th September 2014, 05:35 PM

IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD OLDER EXAMPLE WITH ALL ITS PARTS THERE. IT DOES SHOW USE AND WEAR SO IT WAS USED AND BELONGED TO SOMEONE AND WAS NOT JUST COLLECTED NEW. I SUSPECT JUST ABOUT ANY STEEL WAS USED IN THAT COUNTRY SO A SAW IS POSSIBLE IF THE BLADE IS THIN AND FLEXIBLE LIKE A SAW BLADE. THE DECORATION ON THE SCABBARD MAY GIVE SOME IDEA AS TO THE SPECIFIC REGION AND TRIBE BUT IF IT DOES I DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO SAY.

blue lander · 24th September 2014, 06:45 PM

Thanks. It is thin and flexible like a crosscut saw. The only unsaw-like thing about it is the fuller, but its so shallow it may have been added later.

It has no edge though. It's almost as thick at the edge as it is at the spine.

VANDOO · 24th September 2014, 09:24 PM

WHEN FIREARMS REPLACED EDGED WEAPONS SOME SWORDS WERE STILL WORN. IN THE EARLY YEARS THEY WERE LIKELY STILL EDGED AND A GOOD BACK UP WEAPON BUT IN LATER YEARS PERHAPS BECAME A ITEM OF DRESS AND NOT A WEAPON. STILL A ETHNOGRAPHIC ITEM BUT NO LONGER A FUNCTIONING SWORD BUT JUST FOR SHOW, DANCE AND CEREMONY.

spiral · 24th September 2014, 10:22 PM

& to sell to those who travel for pleasure...

Unsharpened isn't a good sign...

Spiral

Kubur · 25th September 2014, 10:27 AM

Most of the time they use springs of old trucks to do the blades.
It is not an old sword.
I will post later an old example with a military French blade of the end of 18th.
Kubur

Kubur · 25th September 2014, 01:38 PM

It is not mine but it will give you a good idea of an old one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120663514173

23rd September 2014, 07:38 PM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Manding sword I just picked this one up, it seems to be pretty old. The artwork on the scabbard look burned or etched into the leather. I assume the ink they used was acidic and it eventually ate through the leather. The blade itself is a little strange. It's about as thick as a machete with no distal taper. There's a wide fuller on each side but it's very shallow, you can barely make it out in pictures. The steel itself doesn't look that old. I don't think it's a recycled military blade. The only clue as to its origins are some waves on the spine of the blade towards the tip. Perhaps these used to be teeth and it was made from an old saw? Attached Images

24th September 2014, 05:35 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD OLDER EXAMPLE WITH ALL ITS PARTS THERE. IT DOES SHOW USE AND WEAR SO IT WAS USED AND BELONGED TO SOMEONE AND WAS NOT JUST COLLECTED NEW. I SUSPECT JUST ABOUT ANY STEEL WAS USED IN THAT COUNTRY SO A SAW IS POSSIBLE IF THE BLADE IS THIN AND FLEXIBLE LIKE A SAW BLADE. THE DECORATION ON THE SCABBARD MAY GIVE SOME IDEA AS TO THE SPECIFIC REGION AND TRIBE BUT IF IT DOES I DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO SAY.

24th September 2014, 06:45 PM	#3
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Thanks. It is thin and flexible like a crosscut saw. The only unsaw-like thing about it is the fuller, but its so shallow it may have been added later. It has no edge though. It's almost as thick at the edge as it is at the spine.

24th September 2014, 09:24 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WHEN FIREARMS REPLACED EDGED WEAPONS SOME SWORDS WERE STILL WORN. IN THE EARLY YEARS THEY WERE LIKELY STILL EDGED AND A GOOD BACK UP WEAPON BUT IN LATER YEARS PERHAPS BECAME A ITEM OF DRESS AND NOT A WEAPON. STILL A ETHNOGRAPHIC ITEM BUT NO LONGER A FUNCTIONING SWORD BUT JUST FOR SHOW, DANCE AND CEREMONY.

24th September 2014, 10:22 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	& to sell to those who travel for pleasure... Unsharpened isn't a good sign... Spiral

25th September 2014, 10:27 AM	#6
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Most of the time they use springs of old trucks to do the blades. It is not an old sword. I will post later an old example with a military French blade of the end of 18th. Kubur

25th September 2014, 01:38 PM	#7
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	It is not mine but it will give you a good idea of an old one http://www.ebay.com/itm/120663514173