Strange Saw Backed Hanger

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fernando

Jim, hopefuly the conversation over these 'tool weapons' doesn't lead us to an area beyond our forum scope, you know, 20th century WW militaria and the like.
Concerning the what you call Spanish style sword bayonet, while i find this a mistery, i can tell that Juan Luis Calvó, Barceló Rubi and Vicente Toledo only mention a model 1803 for sappers. One particularity with this model is that it had a hole in the point of the blade to allow for two hands/users to perform a better sawing.

The style and circumstances of those 'Spanish' style bayonets is very vague in the references concerning these being used by artillery gunners in the British army, as you recall the dilemma with the briquets I was discussing a while back. Interesting that a feature like that hole was intended for use as a tool (saw) yet these were clearly intended as weapons.




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You're right, and I was immediately apprehensive about using the word 'tool' in describing these weapons, but even the sage Richard Burton described the use of these weapons for utility in these forces charged with functions involving fortifications.

Since the Spanish pattern was in the Napoleonic period it seemed like it met the required criteria to be discussed here. The British pattern discussed is c. 1856 so still OK.

An interesting note about saw back blades might be brought in here, and that many 'hunting hangers' had this feature in the 17th and 18th century supposedly for field dressing game. Hunting hangers were of course not combat oriented, however invariably they found use by officers in many cases.
I know that the Hounslow hangers made in England in the early 17th century were, though resembling hunting hangers, actually intended for use on ships. The serrated saw backs were used for sawing through fouled rigging etc. but the hangers themselves were regarded as 'cutlasses' which were actually naval weapons used in combat.

Since these were last known in use in the Revolutionary war period, their mention is moot as far as the time period allotted but that these weapons in form were used for hunting as well as utility. It seems there are so many cases where weapons and tools transcend purpose and use.

Axes often have a poll on the back of the head , often used as a hammer, but of course deadly as a blunt force weapon as well.

I just looked back at my earlier post and realized I mentioned a bayonet from WWI in the context of my comments in analogy, sorry.

[Cathey]

Saw Back Short Sword (Hanger, Machete ?)
Nationality: British India maybe?
Date: Circa 1880 ?
Maker/Retailer: n/a
Overall Length: In Scabbard 28 3/16” 71.5 cm, Sword Only 27 ½” 69.9 cm
Blade length: 22 ½” 57.2 cm (Saw back 16” 40.5 cm)
Blade widest point: 1 ½” 3.8 cm
Hilt widest point: 5” 12.7 cm
Inside grip length: 4” 10.1 cm
Weight: In Scabbard 0.971 grams Sword Only 0.905 grams
Marks, etc.: It is stamped 83M at the top of the blade on one side and the initials H I O 91 on the other.

Description:
Hanger with steel D Shaped Guard and stepped pommel. The grip is ebony with fine cross hatched decoration. The blade is broad, heavy and saw backed, stamped 83M at the top of the blade on one side and the initials H I O 91 on the other. The Black Leather scabbard has steel mounts.

New Pictures attached

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
The blade profile and the design of the chape and throat on the scabbard are too similar to the P1856 pioneer sword to be coincidence I would think.
Regards,
Norman.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
The blade profile and the design of the chape and throat on the scabbard are too similar to the P1856 pioneer sword to be coincidence I would think.
Regards,
Norman.

Fully agreed, Norman !

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... It seems there are so many cases where weapons and tools transcend purpose and use...

In the case of the model 1803 the Spaniards had it as a 'machete zapadores' (sappers machete); Calvó even calls it a 'machete sierra' (saw machete). Definitely a weapon with a tool utility.


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[Jim McDougall]

Ahah! So the 1803 is called a sappers machete, or as Calvo puts it, saw machete. Thing brings up machetes, which even into modern times (I will not give examples as that will be 20th century and outside 'scope') which have easily fallen into weapon category. The espada ancha of New Spain frontiers is in many ways related to machetes , and often used as one.
Viva Danny Trejo!

[fernando]

Jim, a machete is a big wide knife (cuchillo grande con la hoja ancha), whether an ancient or a modern, even a future version. Basically a tool for cutting branches and our way through the bush. It is a weapon because it cuts, as a kitchen kinfe also cuts; not wanting to be vulgar.
Curiously the Portuguese call it 'catana' (from the Jap katana); i ignore the connection. But that's how they sell it at the ironmonger.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fernando

Jim, a machete is a big wide knife (cuchillo grande con la hoja ancha), whether an ancient or a modern, even a future version. Basically a tool for cutting branches and our way through the bush. It is a weapon because it cuts, as a kitchen kinfe also cuts; not wanting to be vulgar.
Curiously the Portuguese call it 'catana' (from the Jap katana); i ignore the connection. But that's how they sell it at the ironmonger.

Fernando thank you for the elucidation I am now well versed in understanding what a machete is and how it is used, and that it indeed does cut much as a kitchen knife. But then is a kitchen knife a weapon? Another twist in determining the rules of discussion
Just kidding, but you see what I mean

'Ironmonger' !! cool term, great name for a heavy metal band!

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... But then is a kitchen knife a weapon? Another twist in determining the rules of discussion
Just kidding, but you see what I mean ...

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Yes Jim, in legal terms, and not only, a kitchen knife is an utility but, if you are found carrying it in the streets, it is a weapon.
Same goes for the machete; just subtract kitchen and add jungle!
How's that for an approach ? .

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fernando

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Yes Jim, in legal terms, and not only, a kitchen knife is an utility but, if you are found carrying it in the streets, it is a weapon.
Same goes for the machete; just subtract kitchen and add jungle!
How's that for an approach ? .

Most forensic Fernando, so the context determines which category an item is classified.
In analogy, I recall years ago a guy calling me to identify what resulted being a very valuable Caucasian shashka..........when I told him what it was...he gasped, yelled at his young son using it to whack weeds........and screamed at him to get that back in here!!!

Back in the 50s and 60s I could not even say how many cases of bayonets being used as garden tools....we used to buy them at surplus stores for a quarter.
I guess the qualifying denominator is , what was the item's original intended purpose, or in fact, its primary purpose. Obviously a kitchen knife does not qualify as a weapon, though, like many items,, it might become a 'weapon of opportunity'.
In police situations today, just as in colonial times in many spheres, a machete is considered a weapon.
I would imagine the best measure in all this is simply common sense.

Interesting perspectives though.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by fernando

.
Yes Jim, in legal terms, and not only, a kitchen knife is an utility but, if you are found carrying it in the streets, it is a weapon.
Same goes for the machete; just subtract kitchen and add jungle!
How's that for an approach ? .

In the UK there are no defensive weapons, only offensive ones. A tool used for it's intended purpose in the home or at work (or for recreational use, like hunting, fishing, camping) is legal, tho if bladed you must drive directly, do not stop for petrol or coffee to the intended activity, or else a policeman may arrest you and let a judge decide. Walking about town (or even on your own patch of 'jungle') with a machete would get you a visit by the Po-Po if you scare one of the sheeple. Knives, swords, axes, pole arms are OK on your own property or residence, but taking them off it without an acceptable (to the police) reason might be an offence. If during a home invasion, or burglary, you can pick up a handy item to defend yourself if attacked, using it to injure a criminal attempting to flee can get you arrested & again, the Judge or Prosecutor will have to decide if you had sufficient grounds to use a weapon. meanwhile you may be a guest of Her Majesty and rack up an amazing legal bill for court costs and lawyers. If you injure a fleeing felon off your property and injure him/her trying to restrain him/her you will be arrested for assault, offensive weapons possession and use. The felon can sue you for punitive damages and loss of earnings.

[kronckew]

...just to illustrate, here is a recent 'ethnic' machete of mine from a European manufacturer in Ghana which is obviously intended as a weapon, made by the British Machete Co.


'Kitchen' knives are the most commonly carried and used weapon in the UK. actual antique and ethnic fighting knives are rarely if ever used as kitchen knives are much more readily and cheaply available and work just as well.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kronckew

...just to illustrate, here is a recent 'ethnic' machete of mine from a European manufacturer in Ghana which is obviously intended as a weapon, made by the British Machete Co. ...

Wayne, what is 'obvious' is that, if the item you are posting is as 'recent' as you assume, you will risk having its image wacked .

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by fernando

Wayne, what is 'obvious' is that, if the item you are posting is as 'recent' as you assume, you will risk having its image wacked .

Recent date of acquisition by me, Not of MFG. I've found mention of it in a late 19c newspaper advert, sans brass guard tho. BMC Ltd. appears to be out of business. It's African and ethnic in any case