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Old 4th June 2017, 05:40 PM   #8
Jim McDougall
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi
I initially thought Dutch influence so consider either Sri Lankan or Indonesian ...Peculiar loops behind the spear blade suggest a Palace Guard as opposed to a jungle tribal weapon...
Well observed Ibrahiim, and actually I was thinking of Ceylonese as well, and more for guards as you suggested. These scrolled loops are indeed very uncharacteristic for a weapon intended for penetration it would seem, so the idea of palace guards with more decorative forms seemed likely.

These same kinds of spear point were well known on many lances, various polearm heads and daggers (early European daggers with similar blades and these type tangs (called 'whittle tangs) so influences can have been from numbers of sources.

Miguel, you make an excellent observation, as there are numbers of cases where architectural components were repurposed for use on weapons.
It seems ironic (no pun intended) that conversely, there were instances of weapon components used in architectural contexts, such as the terribly poignant fence in England made of Scottish basket hilt blades taken at the tragedy of Culloden.

It is interesting that, conversely, in many weapon forms, the designs and styling on many hilts and various mounts on edged weapons was often based on architectural features. In many instances, the identifications and dating of many examples have determinations based on comparisons with architecture, particularly temples.
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