What is this please?

kahnjar1 · 21st December 2007, 08:37 AM

Can someone please advise what this is. Sold as a French Naval Cutlass, but not sure if that is ACUTALLY what it is.

kahnjar1 · 21st December 2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Can someone please advise what this is. Sold as a French Naval Cutlass, but not sure if that is ACUTALLY what it is.

Sorry guys---the word is ACTUALLY---sorry for the typo!

Rich · 21st December 2007, 11:02 AM

Since not pictured, I assume there are no markings on the blade or hilt.
Looks to me more like a machete, possibly Collins (don't have my Collins
book handy to check). Although most Collins are marked on the blade
in some way depending on the region of the world they were made for.

Rich S

carlos · 21st December 2007, 11:08 AM

The handle seems like a machete used in Cuba in the Span-Am. war.
Best regards

Carlos

Jim McDougall · 21st December 2007, 05:47 PM

I agree with Rich and Carlos, this piece does have machete like characteristics, and I am inclined to agree with thier assessments. I think that the Collins book would give us good possibilities, though as Rich notes, Collins work was typically well marked. They did however supply to many Latin American countries and regions, so the Cuban attribution does seem quite possible.
In our thread on Pirate weapons, items like this often appear included in that category, typically much later of course than the "Golden Age" and often even into the 19th century. The 'machete' presented an ideal weapon that was heavy bladed and shorter than swords, that certainly found favor aboard ships that might well have been involved in maritime use outside the regulation naval vessels such as trade, or even piracy. From that perspective, and considering what appears to be an ebony gripped hilt, this may well have been used aboard a French vessel as suggested (French edged weapons seem to have often used ebony as hilt material) however certainly not regulation navy.
To check on that further, the best information might be found in William Gilkerson's "Boarders Away" (which I do not have handy to verify).
Best regards,
Jim

Robert · 22nd December 2007, 06:47 AM

The blade on this looks quite similar to some of the ones Ive seen on machete made by Corona of El Salvador.

Robert

Robert · 22nd December 2007, 06:47 AM

Double post, please delete.

BBJW · 22nd December 2007, 10:48 PM

I have seen very similar pieces that originated in Indonesia.

Merry Christmas all!

bbjw

21st December 2007, 08:37 AM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	What is this please? Can someone please advise what this is. Sold as a French Naval Cutlass, but not sure if that is ACUTALLY what it is. Attached Images

21st December 2007, 11:08 AM	#4
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Spansh machete? The handle seems like a machete used in Cuba in the Span-Am. war. Best regards Carlos

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21st December 2007, 11:02 AM	#3
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Since not pictured, I assume there are no markings on the blade or hilt. Looks to me more like a machete, possibly Collins (don't have my Collins book handy to check). Although most Collins are marked on the blade in some way depending on the region of the world they were made for. Rich S

21st December 2007, 05:47 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,946	I agree with Rich and Carlos, this piece does have machete like characteristics, and I am inclined to agree with thier assessments. I think that the Collins book would give us good possibilities, though as Rich notes, Collins work was typically well marked. They did however supply to many Latin American countries and regions, so the Cuban attribution does seem quite possible. In our thread on Pirate weapons, items like this often appear included in that category, typically much later of course than the "Golden Age" and often even into the 19th century. The 'machete' presented an ideal weapon that was heavy bladed and shorter than swords, that certainly found favor aboard ships that might well have been involved in maritime use outside the regulation naval vessels such as trade, or even piracy. From that perspective, and considering what appears to be an ebony gripped hilt, this may well have been used aboard a French vessel as suggested (French edged weapons seem to have often used ebony as hilt material) however certainly not regulation navy. To check on that further, the best information might be found in William Gilkerson's "Boarders Away" (which I do not have handy to verify). Best regards, Jim

22nd December 2007, 06:47 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	The blade on this looks quite similar to some of the ones Ive seen on machete made by Corona of El Salvador. Robert

22nd December 2007, 10:48 PM	#8
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	I have seen very similar pieces that originated in Indonesia. Merry Christmas all! bbjw