Any ideas on these

Tim Simmons · 18th January 2006, 06:10 PM

If it were a trap, net or line peg, the dark handle would stand out as you got near to it, when stuck in a snow covered surface. Perhaps ?

Tim

Zan · 19th January 2006, 03:01 AM

Hi,

I just want to precise that "inuit" is the term wich tend to replace "eskimo". The algonquin word "eskimo" means "raw meat eater"...

Zan

Radu Transylvanicus · 19th January 2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zan

Hi,

I just want to precise that "inuit" is the term wich tend to replace "eskimo". The algonquin word "eskimo" means "raw meat eater"...
Zan

Hmm, I wonder what your feedback is on "black feet".

By the way, the word "Inuit" instead means "the real people". Further confusing, the Arctic indigenuos people of Alaska and extreme north Siberia do not speak Inuit, they are mostly but not only, the Yupik and they speak Yupik language ... And the lingvists to my knowledge call their tongues family "Eskimoan"

Little confusing, I would say... I visited Alaska, including north: Fairbanks, Barrow and Fort Yukon in 2004 and was explained to me, regards to Eskimo, that Inuit (Canada & Greenland) that might find it ofensive, in Alaska there isnt any problem with it, they rather have a problem with being mistakenly called Inuit from politeness... Forgive me if I deviated you from the weapons for a second. That could be a walrus tusk, normally they are a little ribbed but not exclusivelly. If it is proven walrus, you are looking at an extremelly valuable Eskimo pana snow knife, probably. An overall utility tool, made from ivory only a long time ago, mostly to cut blocks of snow and or dig trough it. In my opinion there is no relation between the two objects you exhibit.
See this also:
1. http://www.rom.on.ca/exhibits/ivory/...allery_5_2.php
2. http://www.rom.on.ca/exhibits/ivory/...e_page2a_2.php
3. http://www.museevirtuel.ca/Exhibitio...s/12000020.htm

Tim Simmons · 19th January 2006, 05:06 PM

Yes Radu, Andrews acquaintance is indeed going to do rather well, if he or she decides to sell it.

Tim

Montino Bourbon · 20th January 2006, 09:01 PM

And I have seen something like that in a photo of warriors from Senegal.

Rick · 20th January 2006, 10:41 PM

A lot of these are sailor's work also ; sometimes they are scrimshawed .
I can certainly see the martial use of these ; anything that puts a hole in the other guy .......

fearn · 21st January 2006, 07:07 AM

Hi,

Yep, I'd agree that the sword looks like the bill from a swordfish. I also think that the ivory blade on the knife looks like an "Inuit" snow knife ("Inuit" in the sense that I don't know whether it came from Greenland, Alaska, or Canada). No new opinions there.

That said....

1) dimensions would be real helpful.

2) I'm having real trouble figuring out what source. Walrus kind of makes sense, but the dimensions would help straighten that out, as would figuring out how much of a tusk that blade represents.

3) I've seen a number of mounted swordfish blades on Ebay in the last few years, and this one could have come from just about anywhere.

4) If the knife is a walrus ivory snow knife, the usual issues with CITES come into force, as I believe walruses are protected. Potentially NAGPRA, which protects Native American graves, would be an issue in the US. Hopefully you've got some provenance information that makes both of these moot.

Neat blades. I always like seeing something from my side of the tracks.

F

20th January 2006, 09:01 PM	#5
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Swordfish... And I have seen something like that in a photo of warriors from Senegal.

20th January 2006, 10:41 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Swordfish A lot of these are sailor's work also ; sometimes they are scrimshawed . I can certainly see the martial use of these ; anything that puts a hole in the other guy .......

18th January 2006, 06:10 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	If it were a trap, net or line peg, the dark handle would stand out as you got near to it, when stuck in a snow covered surface. Perhaps ? Tim

19th January 2006, 03:01 AM	#2
Zan Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montréal, Province of Québec, Canada Posts: 46	Hi, I just want to precise that "inuit" is the term wich tend to replace "eskimo". The algonquin word "eskimo" means "raw meat eater"... Zan

19th January 2006, 05:06 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Yes Radu, Andrews acquaintance is indeed going to do rather well, if he or she decides to sell it. Tim

21st January 2006, 07:07 AM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi, Yep, I'd agree that the sword looks like the bill from a swordfish. I also think that the ivory blade on the knife looks like an "Inuit" snow knife ("Inuit" in the sense that I don't know whether it came from Greenland, Alaska, or Canada). No new opinions there. That said.... 1) dimensions would be real helpful. 2) I'm having real trouble figuring out what source. Walrus kind of makes sense, but the dimensions would help straighten that out, as would figuring out how much of a tusk that blade represents. 3) I've seen a number of mounted swordfish blades on Ebay in the last few years, and this one could have come from just about anywhere. 4) If the knife is a walrus ivory snow knife, the usual issues with CITES come into force, as I believe walruses are protected. Potentially NAGPRA, which protects Native American graves, would be an issue in the US. Hopefully you've got some provenance information that makes both of these moot. Neat blades. I always like seeing something from my side of the tracks. F