Another plug bayonet ... Portuguese?

fernando · 4th October 2008, 04:01 PM

R. D. C. EVANS reminds us that an easily identifiable sort of Portuguese bayonets were those made in the Azores archipelago, due to the large resource of whale bone in the composition of their grips.
The one posted here seems to have whale bone in the back (taper) section of its grip.
I have already seen a few specimens with a bone/ivory+wood composition, but allways the bone/ivory in the front (swell) section, which makes this specific one an atypical (rare

) item ... my presumption

.
I wouldn't exclude the possibility of this having been a grip repair, but then we could call it a bizarre job.
A pitty the blade engravings are almost gone; and so is what seems to be a mark in one of the quillons.
Most probably end XVIII century.
Blade 22 cms. total length 34 cms.

Fernando

.

Jim McDougall · 5th October 2008, 09:02 PM

Most intriguing Fernando! and I wasn't aware of whale bone being used in these, but do recall Evans notes on the Azores examples.
It seems a while back we had a thread on harpoons from the literary classic "Moby Dick" and I was surprised to discover how much whaling history, and harpoon technology, went back to the Basques.

Since I know little on recognizing varieties of ivory and bone, is whale bone typically so noticeably white? The combination of wood and ivory really is appealing, and it seems likely it might have been reversed on occasion?
It really is a pity on the marks being so degenerated as they would really help.

All the best,
Jim

4th October 2008, 04:01 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Another plug bayonet ... Portuguese? R. D. C. EVANS reminds us that an easily identifiable sort of Portuguese bayonets were those made in the Azores archipelago, due to the large resource of whale bone in the composition of their grips. The one posted here seems to have whale bone in the back (taper) section of its grip. I have already seen a few specimens with a bone/ivory+wood composition, but allways the bone/ivory in the front (swell) section, which makes this specific one an atypical (rare ) item ... my presumption . I wouldn't exclude the possibility of this having been a grip repair, but then we could call it a bizarre job. A pitty the blade engravings are almost gone; and so is what seems to be a mark in one of the quillons. Most probably end XVIII century. Blade 22 cms. total length 34 cms. Fernando . Attached Images

5th October 2008, 09:02 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,940	Most intriguing Fernando! and I wasn't aware of whale bone being used in these, but do recall Evans notes on the Azores examples. It seems a while back we had a thread on harpoons from the literary classic "Moby Dick" and I was surprised to discover how much whaling history, and harpoon technology, went back to the Basques. Since I know little on recognizing varieties of ivory and bone, is whale bone typically so noticeably white? The combination of wood and ivory really is appealing, and it seems likely it might have been reversed on occasion? It really is a pity on the marks being so degenerated as they would really help. All the best, Jim