Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - An extremely nice Indo-Persian Spear

katana · 15th September 2010, 11:02 PM

Thank you all for your replies

,

The chiselled designs originally, for me, appeared Indo-Persian ..or British Raj ....the trisula motif for instance. The scales on the socket could have been a reference to the Naga ....with the blade as its tongue. However, I see now that the trisula could also be seen as a 'fleur de lys'. But the overall arch shapes etc still have an Eastern or Arabic feel.

As I said it may be wootz as there were faint patterning marks.....if wootz it was still 'pointing' (

) to Indo-Persian (or Middle East origins).

The blade profile suggested, perhaps, a hunting use. (wide, sharp edged head used acurately, would 'cut' vital arteries easily).

I had considered a boar spear, and tiger and....but the lack of 'wings' / toggle didn't make sense. Incidently boar hunting was very popular in India....

"..........Pigsticking was a form of boar hunting done by individuals, or groups of spearmen on foot or on horseback using a specialized boar spear. The boar spear was sometimes fitted with a cross guard to stop the enraged animal driving its pierced body further down the shaft in order to attack its killer before dying.

Pig Sticking, an original equestrian sport for women in England. The riders attempt to spear a stuffed sack at full gallop.In India, pigsticking was popular among the Jatts, Gujjars, Rajputs, Sikhs, Maharajas, and with British officers during Victorian and Edwardian times.[1] According to the 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, it was encouraged by military authorities as good training because "a startled or angry wild boar is ... a desperate fighter [and therefore] the pig-sticker must possess a good eye, a steady hand, a firm seat, a cool head and a courageous heart.........."

However, if European, I am wondering whether it could be Spanish with 'Moorish' influences ?? I still do not see the designs as purely European.

Kind Regards David

PS Gene I did wonder whether the 'heat' marks on the side of the socket where the remains of 'bars' ....but had concluded that these were rivets heated and peened over, and then finished 'level' with the socket , but obviously I could easily be wrong.

I hope the pictures below show the patterning in the metal's surface that I first saw..

.

15th September 2010, 11:02 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thank you all for your replies , The chiselled designs originally, for me, appeared Indo-Persian ..or British Raj ....the trisula motif for instance. The scales on the socket could have been a reference to the Naga ....with the blade as its tongue. However, I see now that the trisula could also be seen as a 'fleur de lys'. But the overall arch shapes etc still have an Eastern or Arabic feel. As I said it may be wootz as there were faint patterning marks.....if wootz it was still 'pointing' ( ) to Indo-Persian (or Middle East origins). The blade profile suggested, perhaps, a hunting use. (wide, sharp edged head used acurately, would 'cut' vital arteries easily). I had considered a boar spear, and tiger and....but the lack of 'wings' / toggle didn't make sense. Incidently boar hunting was very popular in India.... "..........Pigsticking was a form of boar hunting done by individuals, or groups of spearmen on foot or on horseback using a specialized boar spear. The boar spear was sometimes fitted with a cross guard to stop the enraged animal driving its pierced body further down the shaft in order to attack its killer before dying. Pig Sticking, an original equestrian sport for women in England. The riders attempt to spear a stuffed sack at full gallop.In India, pigsticking was popular among the Jatts, Gujjars, Rajputs, Sikhs, Maharajas, and with British officers during Victorian and Edwardian times.[1] According to the 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, it was encouraged by military authorities as good training because "a startled or angry wild boar is ... a desperate fighter [and therefore] the pig-sticker must possess a good eye, a steady hand, a firm seat, a cool head and a courageous heart.........." However, if European, I am wondering whether it could be Spanish with 'Moorish' influences ?? I still do not see the designs as purely European. Kind Regards David PS Gene I did wonder whether the 'heat' marks on the side of the socket where the remains of 'bars' ....but had concluded that these were rivets heated and peened over, and then finished 'level' with the socket , but obviously I could easily be wrong. I hope the pictures below show the patterning in the metal's surface that I first saw.. . Attached Images Last edited by katana; 15th September 2010 at 11:15 PM.