West Indies machetes

Ian · 19th January 2018, 10:13 PM

These machetes feature English blades and locally carved hilts in local leather sheaths.

The top three in the first picture are clearly of a common theme with wire-wrapped handles and carved heads of African-West Indian form. The tooled leather sheaths on these three bear the name TRINIDAD vertically on each. The blades on each of these were made by Robert Mole and Sons.

The fourth one is a little different, and features a carved fist on the wire-wrapped hilt and a more ornately tooled sheath. The blade on this one is a Martindale Model no. W702 machete.

I don't believe we have discussed many West Indies blades before, and it seems fitting that these are machetes, the most common work knives in the islands. Anyone else have some of these too?

Ian.
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BBJW · 20th January 2018, 11:17 PM

I have one of these Mole machetes, but it has an Afrikan 'panga' style blade as opposed to a bolo blade and a wood sheath. I would post a photo, but it is in my wife's space in a consignment shop. I believe these blades were last made in the 1920s.- bj

19th January 2018, 10:13 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	West Indies machetes These machetes feature English blades and locally carved hilts in local leather sheaths. The top three in the first picture are clearly of a common theme with wire-wrapped handles and carved heads of African-West Indian form. The tooled leather sheaths on these three bear the name TRINIDAD vertically on each. The blades on each of these were made by Robert Mole and Sons. The fourth one is a little different, and features a carved fist on the wire-wrapped hilt and a more ornately tooled sheath. The blade on this one is a Martindale Model no. W702 machete. I don't believe we have discussed many West Indies blades before, and it seems fitting that these are machetes, the most common work knives in the islands. Anyone else have some of these too? Ian. . Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 21st January 2018 at 03:07 AM.

20th January 2018, 11:17 PM	#2
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	Mole machete I have one of these Mole machetes, but it has an Afrikan 'panga' style blade as opposed to a bolo blade and a wood sheath. I would post a photo, but it is in my wife's space in a consignment shop. I believe these blades were last made in the 1920s.- bj