A Beater Sword

harrywagner · 10th March 2016, 05:59 PM

A few more photos

digenis · 10th March 2016, 06:43 PM

To me it looks like a tourist piece made mid 20th century when the "tourist piece" industry was more primitive in India and pieces had some regional, handmade or unique elements.

I am not an expert on this so I will defer to more informed opinions.

harrywagner · 10th March 2016, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digenis

To me it looks like a tourist piece made mid 20th century when the "tourist piece" industry was more primitive in India and pieces had some regional, handmade or unique elements.

I am not an expert on this so I will defer to more informed opinions.

I wondered about it being a tourist piece myself. I have been fooled before. I finally convinced myself it is real, due mostly to the wear, but I am no expert either. Hopefully someone has seen one of these before. Thanks for your comment! They all help.

Harry

ALEX · 11th March 2016, 10:40 AM

Harry, your intuition was right - a tourist piece indeed.
I do not think it is Indian, nor wootz. Likely a Levant or Egyptian relatively modern souvenir or child's toy. They are usually short and have brass cast fittings, such as on this one. the blades are often cut/shaped from sheet metal, not forged, but hard to tell by pictures.
I am fascinated by the seller's "beater sword" story and how these short swords were used to chase lions out of the bushes

Is it something that even existed?

Kubur · 11th March 2016, 10:52 AM

I confirm, Turkish tourist stuff proablably around 1920-30ties.
With figures and decorations in a so-called Qajar style, a mix of Islamic stuff...
You have also daggers and powder flasks in the same style (see previous posts).
Harry you can't win all the time! You got already a lot of cool things recently!!

Best,
Kubur

Kubur · 11th March 2016, 10:54 AM

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t+powder+flask

harrywagner · 11th March 2016, 11:47 AM

Thanks! i took a chance on this one. I should know better.

Nothing to do but shrug it off. I have come to accept that I will get burned occasionally trying to quickly makeup for four decades of missed collecting. It is not a total loss. It will make good office decor, and it still counts towards my education. The more pieces I handle, fake or real, the better I will be at spotting the keepers. At least I hope that is the case! For the record, I don't have any hard feelings towards the dealer I bought this from. I will be more cautious about buying from them again, but am not about to make a fuss over a small thing like this. Thanks again for the help. I like knowing what I have. As much as I dislike being fooled, I would dislike it even more if I was fooled and never knew.

Harry

harrywagner · 11th March 2016, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

I confirm, Turkish tourist stuff proablably around 1920-30ties.
With figures and decorations in a so-called Qajar style, a mix of Islamic stuff...
You have also daggers and powder flasks in the same style (see previous posts).
Harry you can't win all the time! You got already a lot of cool things recently!!

Best,
Kubur

Hi Kubur, is there a limit?

VANDOO · 11th March 2016, 06:24 PM

LARGE TIGER HUNTS HELD BY THE MAHARAJAHS IN INDIA DID USE LARGE NUMBERS OF BEATERS TO DRIVE THE GAME TO THE ROYAL HUNTERS AND THEIR GUESTS. SOME OF THOSE PUT IN CHARGE OF THE BEATERS MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A UNIFORM AND SWORD BUT MOST BEATERS WOULD HAVE USED WHAT EVER THEY HAD ON HAND FOR DEFENSE BUT MOSTLY RELIED ON THEIR NOISE YELLING AND BEATING ON SOMETHING TO DRIVE ANY DANGEROUS GAME AHEAD OF THEM. I HAVE SEEN VARIOUS FORMS OF SWORDS SAID TO HAVE BEEN USED DURING THESE HUNTS OVER THE YEARS BUT DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE USED BY BEATERS. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO GUESTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE HUNT. OR AS A REWARD TO A BEATER WHO DID SOMETHING BRAVE THAT MADE THE HUNT SUCCESSFUL. WEAPONS WERE ISSUED FROM THE ARSENALS FOR WAR BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR HUNTS AND MOST ARMORY GENERAL ISSUES WERE NOT FANCY. YOUR EXAMPLE LOOKS MORE LIKE A ARABIC OR RUSSIAN FORM THAN A INDIAN FORM TO ME BUT ITS NOT MY SPECIALTY. THERE IS NO SHAME IN HANGING A NICE LOOKING AFFORDABLE WALL HANGER I HAVE MANY.

Kubur · 11th March 2016, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harrywagner

Hi Kubur, is there a limit?

We always do mistakes, the more important is to be kind.
Some old members are really boring because they are patronising the others.
For what i don't know...
Harry it's like LasVegas, I'm not sure that you can always win...

I agree with Khanjar, better a little and nice collection than a big and lazy one...
Like other things

10th March 2016, 05:59 PM	#1
harrywagner Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 373	A few more photos Attached Images

11th March 2016, 11:47 AM	#7
harrywagner Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 373	Thanks! Thanks! i took a chance on this one. I should know better. Nothing to do but shrug it off. I have come to accept that I will get burned occasionally trying to quickly makeup for four decades of missed collecting. It is not a total loss. It will make good office decor, and it still counts towards my education. The more pieces I handle, fake or real, the better I will be at spotting the keepers. At least I hope that is the case! For the record, I don't have any hard feelings towards the dealer I bought this from. I will be more cautious about buying from them again, but am not about to make a fuss over a small thing like this. Thanks again for the help. I like knowing what I have. As much as I dislike being fooled, I would dislike it even more if I was fooled and never knew. Harry

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10th March 2016, 06:43 PM	#2
digenis Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 48	To me it looks like a tourist piece made mid 20th century when the "tourist piece" industry was more primitive in India and pieces had some regional, handmade or unique elements. I am not an expert on this so I will defer to more informed opinions.

11th March 2016, 10:40 AM	#4
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Harry, your intuition was right - a tourist piece indeed. I do not think it is Indian, nor wootz. Likely a Levant or Egyptian relatively modern souvenir or child's toy. They are usually short and have brass cast fittings, such as on this one. the blades are often cut/shaped from sheet metal, not forged, but hard to tell by pictures. I am fascinated by the seller's "beater sword" story and how these short swords were used to chase lions out of the bushes Is it something that even existed?

11th March 2016, 10:52 AM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	I confirm, Turkish tourist stuff proablably around 1920-30ties. With figures and decorations in a so-called Qajar style, a mix of Islamic stuff... You have also daggers and powder flasks in the same style (see previous posts). Harry you can't win all the time! You got already a lot of cool things recently!! Best, Kubur

11th March 2016, 10:54 AM	#6
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t+powder+flask

11th March 2016, 06:24 PM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	LARGE TIGER HUNTS HELD BY THE MAHARAJAHS IN INDIA DID USE LARGE NUMBERS OF BEATERS TO DRIVE THE GAME TO THE ROYAL HUNTERS AND THEIR GUESTS. SOME OF THOSE PUT IN CHARGE OF THE BEATERS MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A UNIFORM AND SWORD BUT MOST BEATERS WOULD HAVE USED WHAT EVER THEY HAD ON HAND FOR DEFENSE BUT MOSTLY RELIED ON THEIR NOISE YELLING AND BEATING ON SOMETHING TO DRIVE ANY DANGEROUS GAME AHEAD OF THEM. I HAVE SEEN VARIOUS FORMS OF SWORDS SAID TO HAVE BEEN USED DURING THESE HUNTS OVER THE YEARS BUT DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE USED BY BEATERS. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO GUESTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE HUNT. OR AS A REWARD TO A BEATER WHO DID SOMETHING BRAVE THAT MADE THE HUNT SUCCESSFUL. WEAPONS WERE ISSUED FROM THE ARSENALS FOR WAR BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR HUNTS AND MOST ARMORY GENERAL ISSUES WERE NOT FANCY. YOUR EXAMPLE LOOKS MORE LIKE A ARABIC OR RUSSIAN FORM THAN A INDIAN FORM TO ME BUT ITS NOT MY SPECIALTY. THERE IS NO SHAME IN HANGING A NICE LOOKING AFFORDABLE WALL HANGER I HAVE MANY.