Weird "sword"

Ian · 9th July 2025, 07:58 PM

Jim, it is indeed amazing what information is readily accessible online now. When I started out in my academic career in the 1960s, finding references meant going to the library, taking Index Medicus (enormous volumes per calendar year) and laboriously looking through them for relevant titles. It was painful reading the small print.

I feel privileged to have lived through the last 60 years and experienced the massive increase in access to knowledge.

ausjulius · 11th July 2025, 06:28 AM

I think we are onto something that this is something from the Carribbean. The numbers are very much in the 18th and 19th century style.. look at the downward sloping 7s.
I don't think it's African as such text would be chiseled in in a different method . Also there would be some native metal working techniques visible and some native artistry. Here it is not.
I think it is indeed something peculiar from the Carribbean islands. Maybe Haiti maybe not.

Jim McDougall · 11th July 2025, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausjulius

I think we are onto something that this is something from the Carribbean. The numbers are very much in the 18th and 19th century style.. look at the downward sloping 7s.
I don't think it's African as such text would be chiseled in in a different method . Also there would be some native metal working techniques visible and some native artistry. Here it is not.
I think it is indeed something peculiar from the Carribbean islands. Maybe Haiti maybe not.

Agreed. It seems earlier the suggestions were that this item, rather than being an odd tool or implement may have ritual type significance, perhaps related to West African religious associations. This of course largely pertains to primarily 'VODUN' which syncretically merged with other religious followings into what became known as VOODOO.
This seems to point to Haiti and what is now Dominican Republic.

Good observations on the period and style of the characters on the blade, which may be device or sigil and number combinations rather than date, though the potential for commemorative date is possible as well.

9th July 2025, 07:58 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,469	Jim, it is indeed amazing what information is readily accessible online now. When I started out in my academic career in the 1960s, finding references meant going to the library, taking Index Medicus (enormous volumes per calendar year) and laboriously looking through them for relevant titles. It was painful reading the small print. I feel privileged to have lived through the last 60 years and experienced the massive increase in access to knowledge.

11th July 2025, 06:28 AM	#2
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 459	I think we are onto something that this is something from the Carribbean. The numbers are very much in the 18th and 19th century style.. look at the downward sloping 7s. I don't think it's African as such text would be chiseled in in a different method . Also there would be some native metal working techniques visible and some native artistry. Here it is not. I think it is indeed something peculiar from the Carribbean islands. Maybe Haiti maybe not.