New to the forums. What do I have?

Raiderbeater · 10th July 2019, 12:13 AM

Hello. I’m new and very glad I found this place. Im in the SE USA and have come by lots of antique weapons in my auction buying. I normally do estate sales, storage, and seizure auctions. I’ve seen everything from ugly fakes to very nice legitimate collectible edged weapons. I’ve saved a few things that I never identified but in the past I’ve received many authentic rare German WW1 and 2 daggers and swords. The oldest authentic weapon I had come by was a late 17th/early 18th C German “heavy” rapier that a dealer gladly took off my hands. I’m no expert so I apologize if this is nothing special. I don’t know what the euro pattern sword could be and I also have a Chinese bronze dagger/sword not pictured (lots of fakes I understand). So does anyone know what I have here??

CSinTX · 10th July 2019, 03:30 AM

Your pictures-

BUCC_Guy · 10th July 2019, 08:24 PM

Swords are not my area, but there’s a lot going on with that tang area.

Whatever construction type it was, the crossguard and/or basket/cup was multi-piece construction as a more typical crossguard with a central hole won’t slide on and get in that groove.

I’m not currently able to find anything of similar construction type.

David R · 10th July 2019, 10:49 PM

The overall shape reminds me of the Hudsen Bay trade blades, but yours looks longer and narrower than usual for them.

Victrix · 11th July 2019, 07:51 AM

Maybe it’s not even a sword blade? What’s the length and width of this thing? Maybe it’s a spear point?

thinreadline · 11th July 2019, 09:25 AM

Yes looks to be a trade blade , though I do agree its longer and narrower than any I have encountered so far . The tang cross piece is typical of these blades. I suspect it was one designed to be used as a lance or spear rather than a knife.

Raiderbeater · 11th July 2019, 12:36 PM

Thickness is around 5.5mm.
Width is 30mm at widest.
Length is 20” overall and blade length only is 17”

Jim McDougall · 11th July 2019, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinreadline

Yes looks to be a trade blade , though I do agree its longer and narrower than any I have encountered so far . The tang cross piece is typical of these blades. I suspect it was one designed to be used as a lance or spear rather than a knife.

By jove I think you got it there TRL!

In "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" (1973, George Nuemann). p.225, 140.PA......there is a pike which seems blacksmith grade of c. 1775, found in Champlain Valley sites. This shows that curious extra bar, while this blade in OP shows better quality blade it does seem made 'in this manner' perhaps it is a European example possibly copied by a colonial blacksmith in the Nuemann example .

10th July 2019, 12:13 AM	#1
Raiderbeater Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 5	New to the forums. What do I have? (pics added) Hello. I’m new and very glad I found this place. Im in the SE USA and have come by lots of antique weapons in my auction buying. I normally do estate sales, storage, and seizure auctions. I’ve seen everything from ugly fakes to very nice legitimate collectible edged weapons. I’ve saved a few things that I never identified but in the past I’ve received many authentic rare German WW1 and 2 daggers and swords. The oldest authentic weapon I had come by was a late 17th/early 18th C German “heavy” rapier that a dealer gladly took off my hands. I’m no expert so I apologize if this is nothing special. I don’t know what the euro pattern sword could be and I also have a Chinese bronze dagger/sword not pictured (lots of fakes I understand). So does anyone know what I have here?? Last edited by Raiderbeater; 10th July 2019 at 05:18 PM. Reason: title

10th July 2019, 03:30 AM	#2
CSinTX Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 233	Your pictures- Attached Images Last edited by CSinTX; 10th July 2019 at 04:47 PM.

10th July 2019, 08:24 PM	#3
BUCC_Guy Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 52	Swords are not my area, but there’s a lot going on with that tang area. Whatever construction type it was, the crossguard and/or basket/cup was multi-piece construction as a more typical crossguard with a central hole won’t slide on and get in that groove. I’m not currently able to find anything of similar construction type.

10th July 2019, 10:49 PM	#4
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	The overall shape reminds me of the Hudsen Bay trade blades, but yours looks longer and narrower than usual for them.

11th July 2019, 07:51 AM	#5
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 697	Maybe it’s not even a sword blade? What’s the length and width of this thing? Maybe it’s a spear point?

11th July 2019, 09:25 AM	#6
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Yes looks to be a trade blade , though I do agree its longer and narrower than any I have encountered so far . The tang cross piece is typical of these blades. I suspect it was one designed to be used as a lance or spear rather than a knife.

11th July 2019, 12:36 PM	#7
Raiderbeater Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 5	Thickness is around 5.5mm. Width is 30mm at widest. Length is 20” overall and blade length only is 17”