Interesting projectile

katana · 30th September 2010, 01:30 AM

Recently finished on eBay, a 'catapult dart', suggested to be medievel to 1700's in date. Weighs nearly 2lbs and it is suggested that the hole in the tail would have rope/ribbon attached , to act as a stabilising tail.

The seller states provenance as...

"....from the Dencil Price collection of Medieval Weapons and Armor. Price amassed his fine collection while in Europe from 1944-1948. Found in southern Belgium....."

Has anyone seen one of these before ?

I would imagine, if genuine, that a catapult would be loaded with several of these and fired at 'massed' enemy lines.

All comments gratefully received, thank you

Regards David

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fearn · 30th September 2010, 05:19 AM

1700s and catapault don't normally go together in my vocabulary, but whatever, I'm open to being wrong.

I'll be interested to hear what others think, but I find myself thinking in terms of sounding lines or similar. Tie this to the end of a line, let it drop and embed, and drag back whatever it's attached to.

Best,

F

Atlantia · 30th September 2010, 09:07 AM

Sorry, just don't see it.
Can't say I'm sure what this was, but I can't see it being fired from anything, or being an effective projectile if it was!
What sort of a groove would soething that shape fit in?
How would it be 'pushed'?
It's got a weight in the middle!
Looks like it was meant to be hung from something.

LOL, like Fearn though, I'm open to being proved wrong on this one!
What did you think David?

M ELEY · 30th September 2010, 11:32 AM

Hmmm...seems like I saw something like this associated with whaling, like the end of a harpoon? Sorry, my sleep-addled brain can't remember it for sure-

Here we go(after a related search of whaling and harpoon guns)-

www.busaccagallery.com/catalog.php?catid=62

http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/on...ition/3_7.html

www.whalecraft.net/Shoulder_Gun_Irons.html

www.whalecraft.net/Swivel%20Guns.html

katana · 30th September 2010, 02:35 PM

Thanks for the replies .....as I thought, not likely catapult ammo. I agree that it probably was 'hung', I think it may be a 'heavy duty' plumb line ....the spear end providing an accurate pointer.

Fearn's is a good suggestion, but I think using this as a 'sounding' device, runs the risk of it being snagged/embedded on the bottom, or giving false readings if the 'bottom' was soft silt and the item embedded itself deeply.

Thanks Mark for the links.The whaling connection sounds interesting....and if it is right, the buyer probably did well....Whaling implements seem to command high prices.

Still, it could even be something else

Kind Regards David

fernando · 30th September 2010, 06:41 PM

Hi David,
Peculiar thing

Hardly a plumb bob, or any kind of plummet; both rear and 'ball' would not have an irregular shape ... even the arrow head. Those things are perfectly concentric; may spin freely without compromise; isn't that so?
Also hardly a sinker; too many irregular forms again

.
An harpoon head would be more likely ... although not definitely that.
Let people carry on digging

.

30th September 2010, 01:30 AM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Interesting projectile Recently finished on eBay, a 'catapult dart', suggested to be medievel to 1700's in date. Weighs nearly 2lbs and it is suggested that the hole in the tail would have rope/ribbon attached , to act as a stabilising tail. The seller states provenance as... "....from the Dencil Price collection of Medieval Weapons and Armor. Price amassed his fine collection while in Europe from 1944-1948. Found in southern Belgium....." Has anyone seen one of these before ? I would imagine, if genuine, that a catapult would be loaded with several of these and fired at 'massed' enemy lines. All comments gratefully received, thank you Regards David . Attached Images

30th September 2010, 09:07 AM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Sorry, just don't see it. Can't say I'm sure what this was, but I can't see it being fired from anything, or being an effective projectile if it was! What sort of a groove would soething that shape fit in? How would it be 'pushed'? It's got a weight in the middle! Looks like it was meant to be hung from something. LOL, like Fearn though, I'm open to being proved wrong on this one! What did you think David? Last edited by Atlantia; 30th September 2010 at 09:18 AM.

30th September 2010, 11:32 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	Hmmm...seems like I saw something like this associated with whaling, like the end of a harpoon? Sorry, my sleep-addled brain can't remember it for sure- Here we go(after a related search of whaling and harpoon guns)- www.busaccagallery.com/catalog.php?catid=62 http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/on...ition/3_7.html www.whalecraft.net/Shoulder_Gun_Irons.html www.whalecraft.net/Swivel%20Guns.html Last edited by M ELEY; 30th September 2010 at 12:00 PM.

30th September 2010, 05:19 AM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	1700s and catapault don't normally go together in my vocabulary, but whatever, I'm open to being wrong. I'll be interested to hear what others think, but I find myself thinking in terms of sounding lines or similar. Tie this to the end of a line, let it drop and embed, and drag back whatever it's attached to. Best, F

30th September 2010, 02:35 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thanks for the replies .....as I thought, not likely catapult ammo. I agree that it probably was 'hung', I think it may be a 'heavy duty' plumb line ....the spear end providing an accurate pointer. Fearn's is a good suggestion, but I think using this as a 'sounding' device, runs the risk of it being snagged/embedded on the bottom, or giving false readings if the 'bottom' was soft silt and the item embedded itself deeply. Thanks Mark for the links.The whaling connection sounds interesting....and if it is right, the buyer probably did well....Whaling implements seem to command high prices. Still, it could even be something else Kind Regards David

30th September 2010, 06:41 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi David, Peculiar thing Hardly a plumb bob, or any kind of plummet; both rear and 'ball' would not have an irregular shape ... even the arrow head. Those things are perfectly concentric; may spin freely without compromise; isn't that so? Also hardly a sinker; too many irregular forms again . An harpoon head would be more likely ... although not definitely that. Let people carry on digging .