Mystery blade

Iliad · 29th December 2008, 09:14 PM

Good Morning/Evening Atlantia
I shall attach pics of the mystery blade as it was when I got it, so you can see the tang for yourself. The only mark on the blade is that of 2 interlocked circles on each side of the raised bit on the back edge; you can just make them out in 2 of the first pics posted. I had wondered if they are marks of a vice used to hold the blade while shaping/sharpening. The blade was sharpish when I got it, but I have since improved on the sharpness; it is now a very dangerous weapon. I have no way of knowing if it is tempered or hardened, but it certainly proved much harder to sharpen than some other blades I have dealt with. Yes, it is flat steel.
Interesting thing about sharp weapons, whenever I show some of my swords, daggers etc to people and say "be careful, this is very sharp", the first thing they do is to touch the edge! A bit like a "wet paint" sign!
Brian

Atlantia · 29th December 2008, 09:22 PM

Hi Brian,
Thats very interesting, a long tang but not one which would have slabs fixed to it through holes?

So presumably it would be fixed into a handle with resin/heat some kind of glue..

Hopefully others will join with opinions! It does look to have some age.

I'll have another think.

I can see why you are thinking its a member of the polearm-Dao family but I don't know jack aboout them so we will need the experts to help there.

Gene

kisak · 30th December 2008, 06:54 PM

Odd proportions. The idea of it having started out as a pudao or some such struck me as well, possibly shortened down a bit as well? The original guard has a somewhat east-Asian feel too IMO. And while I don't really have any idea whatsoever how these polearms should be shaped, the "flatness" here makes me thing of ceremonial weapons and the like.

Iliad · 31st December 2008, 06:35 AM

I'm glad to be able to provide the opportunity for research, also glad that somebody other than me is baffled.
I am pleased that Gavin hasn't seen this posting yet, he'll probably say that it was made in Spain in the 1970's!

Brian

Gavin Nugent · 31st December 2008, 11:22 AM

G'day Brian,

I have been watching, I'd say Spanish, 1970's....whoops thinking out loud with my fingers again.
Would you be kind enough to post all dimensions including the origial tang length. Although there are somewhat Chinese influences in style, (I have a trousse/chopper of a vaguely similar shape and a very long replaced handle), the bevelled cutting edges tell me otherwise, all Chinese weapons I have and have seen, taper to the cutting edge from the spine where as this one doesn't. One thing that does appear Chinese to me though is the notch out in the blade near the hilt, I have seen this cut out where a tonkou should be but no evidence that one was ever present

My guess is that it is a big bad bowie knife of an unknown age

As long as it is sharp and holds an edge, it is a valuable user, glad to see you have given it some life back with a new hilt.

Gav

Iliad · 31st December 2008, 08:46 PM

G'day Gav, I had thought that with the South Africans having thrashed, absolutely THRASHED Australia at cricket, you'd be in hiding!
The dimensions are: overall length 45cm; Blade length 29cm; tang length (best estimate) 13cm; blade width at widest point 7 cm; blade width at sawback point 4.5 cm.
Did I mention that South Africa SLAUGHTERED Australia at the cricket?
Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

Cheers, Brian

kahnjar1 · 31st December 2008, 11:52 PM

Slaughtered you say?? To keep things "European" since we are in that Forum, more like Hung, Drawn and Quartered I would say..............don't be too hard on the Aussies though as we (New Zealand) have to play them soon!!

This blade, although not yet identified could be useful then!

29th December 2008, 09:14 PM	#1
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Good Morning/Evening Atlantia I shall attach pics of the mystery blade as it was when I got it, so you can see the tang for yourself. The only mark on the blade is that of 2 interlocked circles on each side of the raised bit on the back edge; you can just make them out in 2 of the first pics posted. I had wondered if they are marks of a vice used to hold the blade while shaping/sharpening. The blade was sharpish when I got it, but I have since improved on the sharpness; it is now a very dangerous weapon. I have no way of knowing if it is tempered or hardened, but it certainly proved much harder to sharpen than some other blades I have dealt with. Yes, it is flat steel. Interesting thing about sharp weapons, whenever I show some of my swords, daggers etc to people and say "be careful, this is very sharp", the first thing they do is to touch the edge! A bit like a "wet paint" sign! Brian Attached Images

31st December 2008, 11:22 AM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Haha, I have been watching G'day Brian, I have been watching, I'd say Spanish, 1970's....whoops thinking out loud with my fingers again. Would you be kind enough to post all dimensions including the origial tang length. Although there are somewhat Chinese influences in style, (I have a trousse/chopper of a vaguely similar shape and a very long replaced handle), the bevelled cutting edges tell me otherwise, all Chinese weapons I have and have seen, taper to the cutting edge from the spine where as this one doesn't. One thing that does appear Chinese to me though is the notch out in the blade near the hilt, I have seen this cut out where a tonkou should be but no evidence that one was ever present My guess is that it is a big bad bowie knife of an unknown age As long as it is sharp and holds an edge, it is a valuable user, glad to see you have given it some life back with a new hilt. Gav Last edited by freebooter; 31st December 2008 at 11:33 AM.

29th December 2008, 09:22 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Brian, Thats very interesting, a long tang but not one which would have slabs fixed to it through holes? So presumably it would be fixed into a handle with resin/heat some kind of glue.. Hopefully others will join with opinions! It does look to have some age. I'll have another think. I can see why you are thinking its a member of the polearm-Dao family but I don't know jack aboout them so we will need the experts to help there. Gene

30th December 2008, 06:54 PM	#3
kisak Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stockholm Posts: 182	Odd proportions. The idea of it having started out as a pudao or some such struck me as well, possibly shortened down a bit as well? The original guard has a somewhat east-Asian feel too IMO. And while I don't really have any idea whatsoever how these polearms should be shaped, the "flatness" here makes me thing of ceremonial weapons and the like.

31st December 2008, 06:35 AM	#4
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	I'm glad to be able to provide the opportunity for research, also glad that somebody other than me is baffled. I am pleased that Gavin hasn't seen this posting yet, he'll probably say that it was made in Spain in the 1970's! Brian

31st December 2008, 08:46 PM	#6
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	G'day Gav, I had thought that with the South Africans having thrashed, absolutely THRASHED Australia at cricket, you'd be in hiding! The dimensions are: overall length 45cm; Blade length 29cm; tang length (best estimate) 13cm; blade width at widest point 7 cm; blade width at sawback point 4.5 cm. Did I mention that South Africa SLAUGHTERED Australia at the cricket? Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Cheers, Brian

31st December 2008, 11:52 PM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	Slaughtered you say?? To keep things "European" since we are in that Forum, more like Hung, Drawn and Quartered I would say..............don't be too hard on the Aussies though as we (New Zealand) have to play them soon!! This blade, although not yet identified could be useful then!