Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

M ELEY · 2nd November 2008, 05:15 AM

Hmmm...very interesting piece!

OK, I'll take a stab at it.

First off, it's of the period late 18th-early 19th century, based on the scabbard more than anything. It looks French to me, with the stylized hilt classic for the period and again, the scabbard also in the French pattern. At first glance, I thought perhaps it was a cut-down blade, but now I think it is original. The markings are indeed copies of markings found on hangers and cuttoes of the period, and although not of the same exact quality, still wouldn't call them 'crude'. These markings fell out of favor by mid-19th, so I don't think its of the later period.

Weighing all this, I would say that this is either a small hunting hanger based on the markings found on other such hunting swords (definately not a fighting sword) and resembling many of the side knives seen in hunting TROUSES...or it's just a stylized piece of cutlery made as a "show-off" piece. Still, it's pretty cool. The curved point end could have been used to help split open the game/hide. Note the fuller/blood groove, again leading me to suspect hunting knive/sword.
How long is the piece,BTW?

2nd November 2008, 05:15 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Hmmm...very interesting piece! OK, I'll take a stab at it. First off, it's of the period late 18th-early 19th century, based on the scabbard more than anything. It looks French to me, with the stylized hilt classic for the period and again, the scabbard also in the French pattern. At first glance, I thought perhaps it was a cut-down blade, but now I think it is original. The markings are indeed copies of markings found on hangers and cuttoes of the period, and although not of the same exact quality, still wouldn't call them 'crude'. These markings fell out of favor by mid-19th, so I don't think its of the later period. Weighing all this, I would say that this is either a small hunting hanger based on the markings found on other such hunting swords (definately not a fighting sword) and resembling many of the side knives seen in hunting TROUSES...or it's just a stylized piece of cutlery made as a "show-off" piece. Still, it's pretty cool. The curved point end could have been used to help split open the game/hide. Note the fuller/blood groove, again leading me to suspect hunting knive/sword. How long is the piece,BTW? Last edited by M ELEY; 2nd November 2008 at 10:15 AM.