Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 22nd June 2010, 05:32 PM

Getting back to the question, as we all know, material on ethnographic weapons is in itself challenging to find, let alone discussion on the use of the bayonet or attaching ethnographic edged weapons to gun blades in this manner. I think it is important to remember that for the most part, the use of firearms was a European developed situation militarily (despite the obviously well known circumstances of early development in China etc.). In this same context came the use of the bayonet with the use of the gun.

In most ethnographic cases in colonial conflicts, native warriors primary weapons were edged weapons, bow and arrow, spears etc. These were of course weapons readily available, did not require ammunition or powder, nor was training in thier use typically present. Naturally, there was a distinct awareness of the advantages of firearms, and efforts were made to acquire these weapons, as shown by capture of Remington guns by the Mahdists in the Sudan.
In most cases ethnographically, where firearms were indeed used, the use of secondary weapons such as yataghans, daggers and various sidearms were independant of the firearm, which would have been seen as an encumbrance when using the other weapons. There were no drills for bayonet type fighting, so these would not have been so applied.
In Arabia, the use of matchlock guns is known to have been traditionally maintained into the 20th century by the Bedouins, but as far as I know, there are no known examples of bayonets or weapons used as such. The sword in much of Bedouin warfare, remained a primary weapon for combat late into the century despite the use of the matchlock in a tactical sense.

In the case of the Indian matchlock bayonets, these are indeed mentioned in books (Elgood, p.165); Egerton #353 and a Wallis & Wallis sale in 2003 had one with red and white horsehair plume. Tipu Sultan's forces are known to have had some of these, decorated much in his fashion. It should be pointed out that these seem to have developed from European contact with EIC forces, and emulating the use of bayonets on thier guns.

Excellent post Berkeley!!! on the Nepalese 'chupi' , and again, these were developed in response to exposure to British military drill, and while they are 'ethnographic' in the sense that they are exclusive to these Gurkha units, they are produced in military fashion using the L lock and EIC type springs.

22nd June 2010, 05:32 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Getting back to the question, as we all know, material on ethnographic weapons is in itself challenging to find, let alone discussion on the use of the bayonet or attaching ethnographic edged weapons to gun blades in this manner. I think it is important to remember that for the most part, the use of firearms was a European developed situation militarily (despite the obviously well known circumstances of early development in China etc.). In this same context came the use of the bayonet with the use of the gun. In most ethnographic cases in colonial conflicts, native warriors primary weapons were edged weapons, bow and arrow, spears etc. These were of course weapons readily available, did not require ammunition or powder, nor was training in thier use typically present. Naturally, there was a distinct awareness of the advantages of firearms, and efforts were made to acquire these weapons, as shown by capture of Remington guns by the Mahdists in the Sudan. In most cases ethnographically, where firearms were indeed used, the use of secondary weapons such as yataghans, daggers and various sidearms were independant of the firearm, which would have been seen as an encumbrance when using the other weapons. There were no drills for bayonet type fighting, so these would not have been so applied. In Arabia, the use of matchlock guns is known to have been traditionally maintained into the 20th century by the Bedouins, but as far as I know, there are no known examples of bayonets or weapons used as such. The sword in much of Bedouin warfare, remained a primary weapon for combat late into the century despite the use of the matchlock in a tactical sense. In the case of the Indian matchlock bayonets, these are indeed mentioned in books (Elgood, p.165); Egerton #353 and a Wallis & Wallis sale in 2003 had one with red and white horsehair plume. Tipu Sultan's forces are known to have had some of these, decorated much in his fashion. It should be pointed out that these seem to have developed from European contact with EIC forces, and emulating the use of bayonets on thier guns. Excellent post Berkeley!!! on the Nepalese 'chupi' , and again, these were developed in response to exposure to British military drill, and while they are 'ethnographic' in the sense that they are exclusive to these Gurkha units, they are produced in military fashion using the L lock and EIC type springs.