Brass Dagger

not2sharp · 3rd December 2006, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

IIRC some Indo/Malay cultures believe that a wound made with a Copper blade is invariably fatal.

Toer mentions this in the Buru Quartet , again IIRC.

Try a Google ; YMMV.

Then again; perhaps the locals were tempted by the mass availability of brass (spent shell casings) abandon all over the place after WWII.

n2s

Robert · 3rd December 2006, 07:14 AM

not2sharp,
I thought about this but the blade is copper not brass plus I believe this to be pre WWII. What I am wondering about is what was the purpose of making a blade out of copper and not steel?

Robert

Tim Simmons · 3rd December 2006, 06:34 PM

The blade.

Robert · 4th December 2006, 06:02 AM

Tim, Is this crossed pinned to secure it to the shaft? It definitely looks like it could be quite functional to me. Is it brass and could you post a side picture of the blade to give a better idea of its design?

Robert

Tim Simmons · 4th December 2006, 07:58 PM

Robert sorry for not giving all the information in one. Sometimes I have to do other things than talk and look at ethno weapons

. Yes this has a large iron pin in the socket part of the spear blade. The blade is 5mm at the forte with a thick central part which is decorated. The blade part alone is 19cm long. the whole construction is as strong if not stronger than many iron/steel bladed spear. I did show this many years ago then I suggested it was Saharan. I now think the wood of the halft is from more tropical parts of west Africa, Dahomey? only speculation when compered to other wood staffs. As to function, I am not sure if it would have been used in a combat situation. I am sure it was used in the way a spear would be used, the swollen end/handle is just made for pushing the spear forward. The imagination takes over, thats why I find this piece just a little scary.

Robert · 4th December 2006, 10:19 PM

Tim, I only have one spear (only the head itself ) in my collection. It is from Africa and made of thin steel and looks no where near as serviceable as your example. I would agree by the way that yours was made that it was not just ceremonial but made with enough added strength to make it quite functional as well. Maybe this was just the thing that you would take with you to the big dance just for that one jerk that kept trying to put the move on your best girl.

Robert · 7th December 2006, 03:39 AM

A friend furnished me with this on copper blades. "Copper with a sufficient amount of arsenic added would enable the blade to have been work-hardened to a considerable degree without becoming brittle." This might help account for the belief that being stabbed with a copper blade to be fatal.

Robert

3rd December 2006, 07:14 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	not2sharp, I thought about this but the blade is copper not brass plus I believe this to be pre WWII. What I am wondering about is what was the purpose of making a blade out of copper and not steel? Robert

3rd December 2006, 06:34 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,935	The blade.

4th December 2006, 06:02 AM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Tim, Is this crossed pinned to secure it to the shaft? It definitely looks like it could be quite functional to me. Is it brass and could you post a side picture of the blade to give a better idea of its design? Robert

4th December 2006, 07:58 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,935	Robert sorry for not giving all the information in one. Sometimes I have to do other things than talk and look at ethno weapons . Yes this has a large iron pin in the socket part of the spear blade. The blade is 5mm at the forte with a thick central part which is decorated. The blade part alone is 19cm long. the whole construction is as strong if not stronger than many iron/steel bladed spear. I did show this many years ago then I suggested it was Saharan. I now think the wood of the halft is from more tropical parts of west Africa, Dahomey? only speculation when compered to other wood staffs. As to function, I am not sure if it would have been used in a combat situation. I am sure it was used in the way a spear would be used, the swollen end/handle is just made for pushing the spear forward. The imagination takes over, thats why I find this piece just a little scary.

4th December 2006, 10:19 PM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Tim, I only have one spear (only the head itself ) in my collection. It is from Africa and made of thin steel and looks no where near as serviceable as your example. I would agree by the way that yours was made that it was not just ceremonial but made with enough added strength to make it quite functional as well. Maybe this was just the thing that you would take with you to the big dance just for that one jerk that kept trying to put the move on your best girl.

7th December 2006, 03:39 AM	#7
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	A friend furnished me with this on copper blades. "Copper with a sufficient amount of arsenic added would enable the blade to have been work-hardened to a considerable degree without becoming brittle." This might help account for the belief that being stabbed with a copper blade to be fatal. Robert