Elephant swords

rysays · 13th July 2020, 01:20 AM

I have some limited experience working with antique Indian & mammoth ivory and while it's very strong, it's also somewhat brittle. When ivory breaks, the cracks can chip & spread like a split log. I assume a elephant tusk broken close to the root would be as painful as a broken tooth is to a human.

In the scenario where tusks are being used as a weapon, the illustrations that show them blunted with metal caps & bands makes the most sense for me, since it would protect the tip from damage & the bands stop splitting. Blades on the ends of caps, while intimidating, could be big levers that would risk breaking the tusk in use. I wouldn't want to ride on top of an frenzied elephant with a toothache & my hypothesis is the bands/caps are to protect the tusks while they're used as bludgeons, and the rarity of tusk swords implies they were tried but abandoned outside parades.

Ian · 14th July 2020, 01:09 AM

Welcome to the Forum, rysays, and thanks for these comments.

kronckew · 14th July 2020, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rysays

...it's also somewhat brittle. When ivory breaks, the cracks can chip & spread like a split log.

When I was stationed in Alaska, I bought a small Walrus Ivory Polar Bear carving from an Aleut. After a few decades, it started cracking. I soaked it in mineral oil, which was the recommendation back then, to stop it from further cracks. Oiling your elephant's tusks might help, if they let you.

Milogow360 · 19th July 2020, 11:53 PM

Chinese monk account of sword attachments to the trunk. Artist representation of the same from Gandhara, 1st-2nd+ Century AD.

fernando · 20th July 2020, 05:51 PM

Most interesting, Milogow360. Thanks for sharing.

Ren Ren · 20th July 2020, 07:38 PM

A bas-relief from the Borobudur temple complex
https://sillynewsboy.wordpress.com/2...tory/#more-839
Thanks to A. G. Maisey

fernando · 20th July 2020, 07:51 PM

After all ... not so rare !!!

Milogow360 · 20th July 2020, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

A bas-relief from the Borobudur temple complex
https://sillynewsboy.wordpress.com/2...tory/#more-839
Thanks to A. G. Maisey

You can see Elephants holding blades here as well. Gandhara art 1st-2nd+ Century AD.

Chinese monk Xuanzang mentions that emperor Harsha(7th century ad) had armored elephants with spurs attached to their tusks.

fernando · 21st July 2020, 11:36 AM

Great material. Just a pitty it didn't show up some 150 posts before in this tread

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19th July 2020, 11:53 PM	#4
Milogow360 Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 18	Chinese monk account of sword attachments to the trunk. Artist representation of the same from Gandhara, 1st-2nd+ Century AD. Attached Images

20th July 2020, 07:38 PM	#6
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	A bas-relief from the Borobudur temple complex https://sillynewsboy.wordpress.com/2...tory/#more-839 Thanks to A. G. Maisey Attached Images

13th July 2020, 01:20 AM	#1
rysays Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NY, NY Posts: 9	I have some limited experience working with antique Indian & mammoth ivory and while it's very strong, it's also somewhat brittle. When ivory breaks, the cracks can chip & spread like a split log. I assume a elephant tusk broken close to the root would be as painful as a broken tooth is to a human. In the scenario where tusks are being used as a weapon, the illustrations that show them blunted with metal caps & bands makes the most sense for me, since it would protect the tip from damage & the bands stop splitting. Blades on the ends of caps, while intimidating, could be big levers that would risk breaking the tusk in use. I wouldn't want to ride on top of an frenzied elephant with a toothache & my hypothesis is the bands/caps are to protect the tusks while they're used as bludgeons, and the rarity of tusk swords implies they were tried but abandoned outside parades.

14th July 2020, 01:09 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	Welcome to the Forum, rysays, and thanks for these comments.

20th July 2020, 05:51 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Most interesting, Milogow360. Thanks for sharing.

20th July 2020, 07:51 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	After all ... not so rare !!!

21st July 2020, 11:36 AM	#9
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Great material. Just a pitty it didn't show up some 150 posts before in this tread .