View Single Post
Old 20th January 2026, 12:31 AM   #6
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,818
Default

I think you're onto something Capn.....the ferruling does resemble certain weaponry in Indonesia, Ceylon etc. and the tombak image is compelling.
Note the curious lion head compared to the Sinhalese example hanger you had posted in 2010...note the distinctively 'toothey' mouth.

Spontoons seem typically to have 'winged' appendages added to the blade, and were of course typically socketed for the haft rather than tanged, though of course there were likely variations.

The compelling sense of Dutch and East Indies potential for this unusual combination would seem a quite possible case and with the Massachusetts provenance recalls the notable 'China trade' in these ports in 18th c.
Interesting potential!
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote