Identify halberd

[bvieira]

Hello,

I have this Halberd in my colection, ir was found in mozambique, ir has the portuguese coat of arms, anybody has seen another similar ?

Tks.

Regards,

BV


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[fernando]

Benvindo ao forum, BV .
Interesting halberd. I wonder why this sort of thing was found Mozambique . It should have been be used by the Royal guards of one of the Portuguese Kings . Not an early combat weapon, but certainly one used for escorts, parades or Palace guards.
It is not the same style has seen in the entrance of Palacio da Ajuda, though.
I am sorry i can not be of greater help .

.

[bvieira]

Originally Posted by fernando

Benvindo ao forum, BV .
Interesting halberd. I wonder why this sort of thing was found Mozambique . It should have been be used by the Royal guards of one of the Portuguese Kings . Not an early combat weapon, but certainly one used for escorts, parades or Palace guards.
It is not the same style has seen in the entrance of Palacio da Ajuda, though.
I am sorry i can not be of greater help .

.

Hello Fernando,

The person i bought it was a road enginner in the years 40/50 , he was building a road near Sofala in mozambique, he Said to me that sometimes old portuguese swords, canons and all kiind of stuff appear near a fortification in the low Tide.

http://fortalezas.org/index.php?ct=f...fortaleza=1010

This One he Said he bought from a Native , he had this Halberd and several swords and guns.

The ones in the picture you show i know the model i have One bought in a auction.

Tks.

Best regards,

BV

[fernando]

Thank you for the info and for the link to the Sofala fortification. Probably all arms and other stuff found by the natives around the area were not result of ship wrecks but because the fort was gradually invaded by the sea, spreading its remnants all over.
I have been in Mozambique between 1969-1974, stayed in various regions but have never been close to this area.
But having this fort being built beg. XVI century, your halberd would date from a much later period, during which part of the fortification was already in ruins, although still strong enough to defend one last assault in 1836.
Which role this halberd played until the fort was abandoned around 1900, would be interesting to know; this assuming that it was part of the fort armory.
Judging by the short langets and guessing that its blades are not sharpened (?) it could have been a symbolic/command weapon, like that of a sergeant; as naturally in this remote fort no Royal guard parades or escorts would have taken place.
But of course i am only speculating.

[fernando]

Meanwhile i have gathered further information on halberds of this period.
Important to know whether they are forged or cast; that would define whether they are from the realm of Queen Dona Maria II (XIX century) when of cast iron, or Queen Dona Maria I or Prince Regent Dom João (end XVIII century) when forged.
The distinction between both raw materials would be that, if being cast iron, a magnet hardly (or doesn't even) sticks to it and you may notice the (sand) casting grain; whether if it is forged iron, the magnet sticks perfectly as you can hardly stick it out, with a smooth face and thinner/sharper edges, and of lighter weight.
The less perfect engraving of the coat of arms would mean that this was not a Kings Guard halberd but a Guard of some important personality, like the Governor of Mozambique or one of the Brazilian States. The shape of the blade, when of the Kings Guards, is rather different, with its two opposite "half moons" as shown in previous post; the Royal crest together with the initials of the King or Regent, are finely engraved, and never of cast iron.
On the other hand, you may not discard the possibility that your halberd was made in the overseas.
.

[bvieira]

Originally Posted by fernando

Meanwhile i have gathered further information on halberds of this period.
Important to know whether they are forged or cast; that would define whether they are from the realm of Queen Dona Maria II (XIX century) when of cast iron, or Queen Dona Maria I or Prince Regent Dom João (end XVIII century) when forged.
The distinction between both raw materials would be that, if being cast iron, a magnet hardly (or doesn't even) sticks to it and you may notice the (sand) casting grain; whether if it is forged iron, the magnet sticks perfectly as you can hardly stick it out, with a smooth face and thinner/sharper edges, and of lighter weight.
The less perfect engraving of the coat of arms would mean that this was not a Kings Guard halberd but a Guard of some important personality, like the Governor of Mozambique or one of the Brazilian States. The shape of the blade, when of the Kings Guards, is rather different, with its two opposite "half moons" as shown in previous post; the Royal crest together with the initials of the King or Regent, are finely engraved, and never of cast iron.
On the other hand, you may not discard the possibility that your halberd was made in the overseas.
.

Hello Fernando,

Tks for the information, i would check with the magnet but i'am pretty sure it's cast iron and in my opinion i really think it was made in Mozambique.

One interesting thing is the coat of arms, if you notice this coat of arms is not very common, the circular shape can be related with D.Joao VI, i found a similar coat of arms in a canon in the army museum in Lisbon.

Regards,

BV

[fernando]

Looking at this cannon, we notice that the shield is oval, that of Dom João while Prince Regent, as it says in the inscription. Later when he became King (and Emperor) while in Brazil, we see that the Coat of Arms becomes circular, including the armillary sphere. After 1826 it returned to the prior version, as by then Brazil was already independent. In any case, your halberd having the circular shape but not including the armillary sphere, could be due to it not having been made in Brazil but in Mozambique ... i would venture.

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[Helleri]

Originally Posted by bvieira

Hello Fernando,

Tks for the information, i would check with the magnet but i'am pretty sure it's cast iron and in my opinion i really think it was made in Mozambique.

One interesting thing is the coat of arms, if you notice this coat of arms is not very common, the circular shape can be related with D.Joao VI, i found a similar coat of arms in a canon in the army museum in Lisbon.

Regards,

BV

It is not cast iron. Cast iron has a carbon content by weight of approximately 2%-4%. As such it is very heavy and rather brittle. It can only be cast and ground. It cannot be holed or hammered (even most makers marks and decoration in cast iron are part of the mold). This piece shows clear evidence of forge work having been done for either it's fitting, manufacture, or both. The work also shows no distinct casting seams or evidence of the removal or wearing down of casting seams.

Neither is it wrought iron. As given it's apparent age and condition we would see at least some evidence of surface cleavage revealing fibrous structure. To me this looks to be a low to medium carbon crucible steel. Worked on a forge from stock. Possibly case hardened.

[Double posted in edit somehow. please delete post 8]

[bvieira]

Hello,

After tests my conclusion ist that it's forged!

About the origin still don't know, asked for "experts" i know opinion and no conclusion.... i will continue to study the halberd, i think the best evidence so far is that ir's origin is from mozambique and probably a local forged one...

Tks.

Best regards,

BV