VOC hanger advice

kai · 16th November 2021, 10:05 PM

I'm with Rick - compared to the corroded surfaces, the stamping seems exceptionally crisp. This may suggest a later (though also apparently not recent) addition.

If it's done later, it's a pretty good attempt. It does look more like a VOO (rather than VOC) though! Since these stamps were never standardized, maybe the C was just missing from the tool set and they had to use the O twice...

Regards,
Kai

mariusgmioc · 17th November 2021, 07:19 AM

The corrosion is quite deep but uniform and consistent with its age.
The stamp is crisp but it is also corroded consistent with the rest of the blade so I am pretty sure it is original and not a later addition. Also the marking shape and style are correct confirming they are the original.

I am not very knowledgeable in tackling this type of corrosion but I would only clean it with bronze brushes & steel wool and WD40 to remove the active rust.

Peter Andeweg · 17th November 2021, 08:43 AM

Agreed with all mentioned above, a nice blade but too deeply corroded to have it polished, the same for the guard. I think that some handy fellow had made this new hilt, but it sure does not add any value nor aesthetic pleasure.
The shell guard cutlasses or hangers are very scarce, I often encounter VOC marked blades with tribal or European military hilts, but rarely with the clam shell guard.

A good find!

Kmaddock · 17th November 2021, 02:10 PM

Hi
Lovely item in condition I prefer my items to be
Can you post a picture of the peening so we can see if handle replaced recently
Regards
Ken

cel7 · 17th November 2021, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmaddock

Hi
Lovely item in condition I prefer my items to be
Can you post a picture of the peening so we can see if handle replaced recently
Regards
Ken

I don't think it happened recently but it won't be very old either. The man I bought it from clearly had no idea. He'd had it in the attic for years. It had belonged to his father-in-law, who collected sharp weapons at the time. He may have mounted it on it at some point. At the top of the pommel you can see that it has been welded.

asomotif · 18th November 2021, 08:01 PM

Interesting sword.

I would leave the metal as it is. Crystalline wax sounds good.

The hilt. It would be nice if someone could reshape it into a thinner spiral hilt without removing it. A smart carver should be able to do this.

I am very surprised about the crisp markings on the "left" side.
But as left and right are the same stamps and on the right side they show erosion that is more consistent, I find it hard to draw a conclusion.

Best regards,
Willem

midelburgo · 19th November 2021, 02:14 PM

What I have seen of these VOC swords, blades are not unusual but they have been often rehilted into any kind of Asian swords (maybe they reached Asia as spare blades anyway).
Original hilts and pommels are much rarer.

17th November 2021, 07:19 AM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	The corrosion is quite deep but uniform and consistent with its age. The stamp is crisp but it is also corroded consistent with the rest of the blade so I am pretty sure it is original and not a later addition. Also the marking shape and style are correct confirming they are the original. I am not very knowledgeable in tackling this type of corrosion but I would only clean it with bronze brushes & steel wool and WD40 to remove the active rust. Last edited by mariusgmioc; 17th November 2021 at 08:28 AM.

16th November 2021, 10:05 PM	#1
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	I'm with Rick - compared to the corroded surfaces, the stamping seems exceptionally crisp. This may suggest a later (though also apparently not recent) addition. If it's done later, it's a pretty good attempt. It does look more like a VOO (rather than VOC) though! Since these stamps were never standardized, maybe the C was just missing from the tool set and they had to use the O twice... Regards, Kai

17th November 2021, 08:43 AM	#3
Peter Andeweg Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Vlissingen, Netherlands Posts: 71	Agreed with all mentioned above, a nice blade but too deeply corroded to have it polished, the same for the guard. I think that some handy fellow had made this new hilt, but it sure does not add any value nor aesthetic pleasure. The shell guard cutlasses or hangers are very scarce, I often encounter VOC marked blades with tribal or European military hilts, but rarely with the clam shell guard. A good find!

17th November 2021, 02:10 PM	#4
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	Hi Lovely item in condition I prefer my items to be Can you post a picture of the peening so we can see if handle replaced recently Regards Ken

18th November 2021, 08:01 PM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Interesting sword. I would leave the metal as it is. Crystalline wax sounds good. The hilt. It would be nice if someone could reshape it into a thinner spiral hilt without removing it. A smart carver should be able to do this. I am very surprised about the crisp markings on the "left" side. But as left and right are the same stamps and on the right side they show erosion that is more consistent, I find it hard to draw a conclusion. Best regards, Willem

19th November 2021, 02:14 PM	#7
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 264	What I have seen of these VOC swords, blades are not unusual but they have been often rehilted into any kind of Asian swords (maybe they reached Asia as spare blades anyway). Original hilts and pommels are much rarer.