Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 24th February 2008, 09:28 PM

I would like to digress from the subject matter on ebay seller issues and address the elephant sword topic which heads this thread.

I am inclined to agree with Andrew concerning the likely purpose of this piece which does seem like a processional or bearing type weapon, and in that sense may have some degree of authenticity. It is difficult to really tell how effectively such ceremonial weapons may have been fashioned for non combat purposes, and how skilled the furbisher might have been.

It seems that psychological warfare has often been key in the creation of many weapons that have had questionable application for actual combat use. The addition of the hooks on this blade, the use of bone (or tusk as it were) in adding to the formidable appearance of this interesting piece does indeed carry a degree of such possibility.

As David has linked that thread from last January, it was interesting to review some material I had found that suggests there were indeed instances of edged weapons applied to the trunk and tusks of elephants in warfare. In "By my Sword and Shield" (E.Jaiwent Paul, p.106) it is noted that elephant tusks were tipped with metal points.
In an excellent article by Thom Richardson and Donna Stevens in Royal Armouries Yearbook (Vol.I 1996, pp.101-103), "The Elephant Armour", it is noted that elephants were armed with spears and knives at the Battle of Panipat (1556). Other instances are also noted and reference is made to the example of a pair of these tusk swords from Clives collection (from Powis Castle) now in the holdings at Leeds. The only others are from a Mysore arsenal and were sold by Sothebys in 1991.

While I am unsure of the use of elephants in warfare in SE Asia, it would seem possible that there was awareness of the concept from India. In any case, it would certainly be worthy of further research, while recognizing a degree of plausibility in the possible use of this piece. I am not sure that the use of 'wallhanger' in the description was intended to dismiss the authenticity of the weapon, but suggesting its potential for display in a grouping of weapons from these regions.

All best regards,
Jim

24th February 2008, 09:28 PM	#19
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	I would like to digress from the subject matter on ebay seller issues and address the elephant sword topic which heads this thread. I am inclined to agree with Andrew concerning the likely purpose of this piece which does seem like a processional or bearing type weapon, and in that sense may have some degree of authenticity. It is difficult to really tell how effectively such ceremonial weapons may have been fashioned for non combat purposes, and how skilled the furbisher might have been. It seems that psychological warfare has often been key in the creation of many weapons that have had questionable application for actual combat use. The addition of the hooks on this blade, the use of bone (or tusk as it were) in adding to the formidable appearance of this interesting piece does indeed carry a degree of such possibility. As David has linked that thread from last January, it was interesting to review some material I had found that suggests there were indeed instances of edged weapons applied to the trunk and tusks of elephants in warfare. In "By my Sword and Shield" (E.Jaiwent Paul, p.106) it is noted that elephant tusks were tipped with metal points. In an excellent article by Thom Richardson and Donna Stevens in Royal Armouries Yearbook (Vol.I 1996, pp.101-103), "The Elephant Armour", it is noted that elephants were armed with spears and knives at the Battle of Panipat (1556). Other instances are also noted and reference is made to the example of a pair of these tusk swords from Clives collection (from Powis Castle) now in the holdings at Leeds. The only others are from a Mysore arsenal and were sold by Sothebys in 1991. While I am unsure of the use of elephants in warfare in SE Asia, it would seem possible that there was awareness of the concept from India. In any case, it would certainly be worthy of further research, while recognizing a degree of plausibility in the possible use of this piece. I am not sure that the use of 'wallhanger' in the description was intended to dismiss the authenticity of the weapon, but suggesting its potential for display in a grouping of weapons from these regions. All best regards, Jim