Mandingo Sword Club? British shillelagh sword club?

[DavidFriedman]

Thanks Gavin,
I agree, I feel the shape is very blackthornesque. Though do the walking sticks show up this massive? About 41 inches long, and the bulbous club tip is about 2.5-3 inches across by eyeballing it.

Any guesstimate on on possible age? The axe is my personal piece, which I believe is Napoleonic.

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Hi David,

Nice sword cane. It seems someone wanted a discreet weapon to walk with, rather than hanging from their hip.

It seems like a very well balanced and functional weapon.

At a glance, it looks as though it was meant to look like the Irish Blackthorn which was a common theme in the day for all sorts of walking sticks and canes.

Welsh is possible but I am not sure just how accurate that is, I'd be more inclined to just say English. The handle type is also a very UK/EU design.

Nothing says African in design, other than these blade types from the EU that were found far and wide.

The axe might be better placed in the EU forum?

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by DavidFriedman

Thanks Gavin,
I agree, I feel the shape is very blackthornesque. Though do the walking sticks show up this massive? About 41 inches long, and the bulbous club tip is about 2.5-3 inches across by eyeballing it.

Any guesstimate on on possible age? The axe is my personal piece, which I believe is Napoleonic.

In a cityscape in Victorian times when these were most popular, no, they are of a typical discrete cane size, it is how they passed undetected by would be attackers, they blended in.

In more remote or country setting, or remote colonial postings, anything goes and I think such a size would look to be a wonderful visually defensive deterrent simply based on size... for the confident would be attacker, the hidden message within would be quite the surprise.

The manner of the lanyard hole is a very French thing too... also commonly seen on the 18th century Pique work sticks... the whole thing, although I would not call it one, brings to mind the French Demi Solde sword canes....

I feel it is 19th century from the photos.

[DavidFriedman]

Thanks Gavin, great info! I’ll look in those directions.

A visual comes to mind of Crocodile Dundee unsheathing this, when an attacker pulls out a pen knife, saying, “This is a knife”

Cheers!