what is this?
 

hello i have been not on line for a while...
please see pictures below and maybe you have an idea what kind of object is this iron shaft, i will take some better pictures during weekend, this "mace" is around 40cm long,, heavy 1-2 kg octagonal, welded and brass inlaid in arabic ? sentences
thank you in advance for help....Husar

bar mace? how long is it?

about 40 cm, just have found out that one symbol is coptic cross and another trinity .... so origin seems to be from Egypt?

negative, not from Egypt, I'm formal ;)
under reserves,
may be to 've a look to or around Ethiopia

à +

Dom

If it is fit enough to enter in a pistol barrel, it is a ramrod :)

quite possible, is the swollen end dished? octagonal x-section is a bit unusual. looks like it'd be for a serious calibre.

ramrods were frequently separated from their weapons in the heat of battle. many a trooper has fired his ramrod down range in the heat of an encounter, which is very embarrassing when he has to explain what happened to it (presuming he survived).

one of my favourite episodes of 'Sharp' is when the evil french spy Duclos sends two french cavalrymen, sabres drawn, charging down on Sgt. Harper, telling them he can only have time to shoot one of them, the survivor would get a handsome reward, (muzzle loading rifles of the period took a bit more time reloading than a musket as well) anyhow harper shoots one, pours in some powder & priming, & shoots the ramrod into the 2nd ...

Interesting object. I am not yet convinced that is a coptic cross. The symbols seem to have magickal significance, but you pics don't really show them very well or the script which also appears on the shaft. Can you make clearer photos without all that glare?
I seriously doubt that this was intended as a ramrod. What are the dimensions? Is it solid steel/iron?

What does the other end look like? Any signs of wear on it? I would expect scrape marks if it were a ram rod, and perhaps dents or bends if it were a mace. Perhaps it is a baton (swagger stick)?

Dear all
this is pretty heavy more than 1kg is it solid iron, welded.
i will make some more pictures during weekend... there are markings which look like talismanic symbols all over "head" and arabic inscriptions on the shaft
best
Husar

bit heavy for a ramrod then. possible truncheon/baton/cosh?

Hi Husar

Is this the one off ebay (UK) a few weeks ago?
If not then there was an identical one. Seller described it as indo-persian if memory serves, but I dont think it is.
There was recently a thread about chinese/asian stick maces. I feel that this might be in that category. I must admit I was tempted to bid on the one on ebay, I think its attractive whatever it is.

Regards
Gene

more pictures
 

some more pictures maybe somebody can read those scripts?

Looks like a baton to me. Some high up chap. Could be a club but a little short? and rather fancy for an ordinary fighter? nice though :cool:

what ever it is that object, the last pics very clear show;
- arabic writing
- none arabic language
- either; Farsi or Pashto alphabet (د پښتو الفباء)

impossibility to have a Coptic origine as mentionned,
but for sure Indo-Iranian :p

à +

Dom

hi Dom!
thanks for the post, can you translate those scripts??? or symbols?
best
Husar

sorry, impossible to translate
capacities of my translator are "just" Arabic ... nobody 's perfect :shrug:
but anyway, her ... She is perfect ... as principle :p

à +

Dom

Bar Maces
 

Booty from Adoni stored at Bikaner Armory had bar maces 64cm long with a very similar construction, pictured in "The Arts of the Muslim Knight" page 237.

rand

Not in my copy French or English.

Arms Book
 

Thats interesting, just recieved a copy of "The Arts of the Muslim Knight", The Furusiyya Art Foundation Collection by Bashir Mohamed, is 416 pages, the second half of the book is mostly Mughal arms and on page 257, number 247 it shows hour iron maces that are similar except they have a slight curve near the head of the mace.

Was disappointed not to see more Mamluk arms shown in the book as that was the main theme for the exhibit and the collection has more examples.

This book was on special from Amazon... If you have the French version and its different let me know.

rand

First time you wrote 237. These ones in the book have nothing in common with the one under discussion. Other than the fact their all head wrenches.

I'm really fascinated by this object.


My guess is......magic wand.

Really. I'm thinking the four symbols are Christian, and are most similar to a triquetra, a vesica piscis or ichthus, a cross potent or coptic cross, and though more a stretch than the others, I'd blindly guess the square symbol on the head with the 4 sets of three lines may be a triparted cross, with each line inlaid representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
The script looks most similar to cursive hieratic or demotic. But the symbols are Christian.....so that means maybe this is an early Christian scepter for ritual purposes (magic wand) covered in ancient Christian symbols and even earlier potent spells in hieratic?

Any of that sorta make sense? or just sound crazy? :shrug:

Also, any mention of magic wands in historical manuals says they are tapered, and about a cubit in length. :eek:


:D

Lets hear someone figure out the full story!