Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicknz
...
It makes you wonder if the source of the blades could have been from the remains of the German cruiser SMS Emden after it ran ashore on the Cocos Islands following its battle with the RAN cruiser Sydney.
...
|
I have a couple of these, they come in various sizes. They are very distinctive looking, and you can tell their origin at a glance. There was a Malay family of blacksmiths that made these, and they indeed used steel taken from the Emden, which was easily accessible. They are well-made, too. Troopships frequently stopped there & they were a popular souvenir. The story of the battle adds greatly to their provenance.
RAN History <-link
WIKI Version <-link