South Pacific Stoneblade Knife?

chregu · 1st July 2011, 08:20 PM

Hi
who knows anything about this knife?
Obsidian blade, handle organic material (like wood)
all information welcome
Thank Chregu

fearn · 1st July 2011, 08:46 PM

Looks melanesian, certainly. Solomon Islands?

F

Atlantia · 1st July 2011, 11:18 PM

Ooh, Obsidian is lovely!

VANDOO · 1st July 2011, 11:43 PM

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THE TROBRIAND ISLANDS HAD A SUPPLY OF OBSIDIAN. AFTER LOOKINF THRU PICTURES I DON'T KNOW IF THE TROBRIAND ISLANDS IS A SOURCE OF OBSIDIAN BUT THEY DO SOME VERY GOOD WOOD CARVINGS SO MUST HAVE SOME GOOD BLADE MATERIAL AVAILABLE.
THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS DO MAKE SPEARS OF OBSIDIAN SO PERHAPS THEY ARE THE SOURCE . TWO EXAMPLES OF ADMIRALTY IS. SPEAR POINTS.

Dom · 2nd July 2011, 12:04 AM

Hi
I'm absolutely fascinated by "obsidian"
so, a dagger with an obsidian blade

sincere congratulations

à +

Dom

kahnjar1 · 2nd July 2011, 05:42 AM

Not suggesting any origin of the knife, but just to say that Obsidian is volcanic glass, so could come from anywhere that has (or had) active volcanos. There are many around the Pacific Rim so really any island could have it.

Indianajones · 2nd July 2011, 11:48 AM

Hello Chregu, nice knife. As Vandoo already modestly pointed out, the knife originates from the Admiralty Islands. The handle would also have had those red and white colors but it seems to be burnt a bit?
Good thing is that the blade of yours is in excellent condition, as with most the tip has been broken.
They are actually quite wanted as is (almost?) everything from the Admiralty Islds (in the Tribal Art-world than). Perhaps you can very carefully try to remove the black? (first on a small spot with wet tissue n bit soap)
Best, Wouter

Sajen · 2nd July 2011, 02:40 PM

Admiralty Islands would be my guess as well.

Regards,

Detlef

VANDOO · 2nd July 2011, 06:33 PM

FOR SOME REASON UNKNOWN TO ME MOST VOLCANOES DO NOT PRODUCE OBSIDIAN AT LEAST NOT IN QUALITY OR LARGE ENOUGH SIZE FOR USE IN MAKEING POINTS. IN HAWAII AS CLOSE TO OBSIDIAN AS IT GETS IS SOMETHING CALLED PELIES HAIR WHICH IS VOLCANIC GLASS HAIR THIN.
SOME VOLCANOES HAVE VOLCANIC GLASS WITH OTHER MINERALS INSIDE THAT PREVENT IT FROM BEING FLAKED TO MAKE GOOD LARGE POINTS (SEE SNOWFLAKE OBSIDIAN). VOLCANOES PRODUCE ASH, BASALT AND VARIOUS SORTS OF LAVA BUT GOOD OBSIDIAN IS RARE AND NOT FOUND IN THE MAJORITY OF VOLCANIC MATERIAL WORLD WIDE.
I AM NOT SURE BUT THE LARGEST DEPOSITS AND THE MOST VARIETYS OF OBSIDIAN ARE FOUND IN THE AMERICAS ESPECIALLY SOUTH AMERICA AND TO THE WEST IN NORTH AMERICA.

chregu · 2nd July 2011, 10:36 PM

Hi
Thank you for your information.
which should agree with the Admiralty Islands. I found several museum pieces.
Question about grip material, I have several times found the term Parinarium nut paste, which is a material that was often used in the Solomon Islands (colored red and white)
My grip has only a faint red / brown color pigments
on.
So thank you again for your help.
regards Chregu

1st July 2011, 08:20 PM	#1
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	South Pacific Stoneblade Knife? Hi who knows anything about this knife? Obsidian blade, handle organic material (like wood) all information welcome Thank Chregu Attached Images

1st July 2011, 11:43 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THE TROBRIAND ISLANDS HAD A SUPPLY OF OBSIDIAN. AFTER LOOKINF THRU PICTURES I DON'T KNOW IF THE TROBRIAND ISLANDS IS A SOURCE OF OBSIDIAN BUT THEY DO SOME VERY GOOD WOOD CARVINGS SO MUST HAVE SOME GOOD BLADE MATERIAL AVAILABLE. THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS DO MAKE SPEARS OF OBSIDIAN SO PERHAPS THEY ARE THE SOURCE . TWO EXAMPLES OF ADMIRALTY IS. SPEAR POINTS. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 2nd July 2011 at 12:31 AM.

1st July 2011, 08:46 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Looks melanesian, certainly. Solomon Islands? F

1st July 2011, 11:18 PM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Ooh, Obsidian is lovely!

2nd July 2011, 12:04 AM	#5
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	Hi I'm absolutely fascinated by "obsidian" so, a dagger with an obsidian blade sincere congratulations à + Dom

2nd July 2011, 05:42 AM	#6
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	Not suggesting any origin of the knife, but just to say that Obsidian is volcanic glass, so could come from anywhere that has (or had) active volcanos. There are many around the Pacific Rim so really any island could have it.

2nd July 2011, 11:48 AM	#7
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hello Chregu, nice knife. As Vandoo already modestly pointed out, the knife originates from the Admiralty Islands. The handle would also have had those red and white colors but it seems to be burnt a bit? Good thing is that the blade of yours is in excellent condition, as with most the tip has been broken. They are actually quite wanted as is (almost?) everything from the Admiralty Islds (in the Tribal Art-world than). Perhaps you can very carefully try to remove the black? (first on a small spot with wet tissue n bit soap) Best, Wouter

2nd July 2011, 02:40 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Admiralty Islands would be my guess as well. Regards, Detlef

2nd July 2011, 06:33 PM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	FOR SOME REASON UNKNOWN TO ME MOST VOLCANOES DO NOT PRODUCE OBSIDIAN AT LEAST NOT IN QUALITY OR LARGE ENOUGH SIZE FOR USE IN MAKEING POINTS. IN HAWAII AS CLOSE TO OBSIDIAN AS IT GETS IS SOMETHING CALLED PELIES HAIR WHICH IS VOLCANIC GLASS HAIR THIN. SOME VOLCANOES HAVE VOLCANIC GLASS WITH OTHER MINERALS INSIDE THAT PREVENT IT FROM BEING FLAKED TO MAKE GOOD LARGE POINTS (SEE SNOWFLAKE OBSIDIAN). VOLCANOES PRODUCE ASH, BASALT AND VARIOUS SORTS OF LAVA BUT GOOD OBSIDIAN IS RARE AND NOT FOUND IN THE MAJORITY OF VOLCANIC MATERIAL WORLD WIDE. I AM NOT SURE BUT THE LARGEST DEPOSITS AND THE MOST VARIETYS OF OBSIDIAN ARE FOUND IN THE AMERICAS ESPECIALLY SOUTH AMERICA AND TO THE WEST IN NORTH AMERICA.

2nd July 2011, 10:36 PM	#10
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	Hi Thank you for your information. which should agree with the Admiralty Islands. I found several museum pieces. Question about grip material, I have several times found the term Parinarium nut paste, which is a material that was often used in the Solomon Islands (colored red and white) My grip has only a faint red / brown color pigments on. So thank you again for your help. regards Chregu