15th March 2015, 12:25 AM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 422
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Forged and cast zaghnal
Inspired by http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19668 I thought I'd photograph my zaghnals. Both have modern hafts. One is cast, and I have no reason to think it anything other than a modern tourist zaghnal. The other one is forged, and laminated, with the head inserted into a brass socket. The blade looks like sanmei (three-plate), with what are likely to be iron cheeks thickening the point, welded onto the sides of what is likely a high carbon steel centre. The cheeks appear to be folded, so I guess wrought iron (bloomery iron). Not sure about the centre.
The forged one looks like rather sophisticated construction for a tourist zaghnal, and both sophisticated construction and plain appearance for a parade weapon. So this might be a real fighting zaghnal. It's moderately sharp; this might be a modern refurbishment. Are untouched old forged zaghnals sharp? Sharpness would help it go through textile armour. Tough enough to punch through not-too-thick mild steel with ease, and the sharpness helps a bit with that, too. The cast one would work as a weapon, if it isn't too brittle (and the slightly bent thrusting spike suggests it isn't), but the same can be said for most things of iron/steel on the end of a stick. Not at all sharp. On the plus side, it comes mounted complete with a way to easily injure yourself. |
15th March 2015, 04:21 PM | #2 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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I AGREE WITH YOUR ACESSMENT ON THESE TWO. THEY ARE MADE FOR EITHER PROCESSIONAL, PRESENTATION OR TO SELL TO THOSE WHO TRAVEL. THEY ARE A NICE LOOKING PAIR AND CAN BE CONSIDERED ETHINOGRAPHIC FOR THEIR TIME. THESE ARE NOT EASY TO FIND TODAY AND MAKE A VERY NICE DISPLAY ITEM.
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