What Exactly is a 'Wallhanger'?

Jim McDougall · 26th November 2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

WALLHANGERS ARE AS STATED NOT FOR USE BUT PURELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DECOR.THE WALL PLACKS FROM SPAIN WITH SHIELDS,HELMETS AND CROSSED SWORDS ARE GOOD EXAMPLES. THEY WERE MADE TO LOOK GOOD AS DECORATION BUT NOT TO SERVE AS WEAPONS. TOLEDO HAS MADE MANY SUCH ITEMS FOR MANY YEARS THEY RUN THE RANGE FROM FULL SIZE SWORDS THAT ARE QUITE BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, TO SETS OF SMALL ONES FOR PUTTING YOUR OLIVE ON IN A MARTINI. THEY ARE ONLY DESIGNED TO LOOK GOOD AS DECOR FOR HOME OR OFFICE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CLASSES ONE IS HIGH GRADE REPLICAS OF ACTUAL ITEMS THEY CAN BE GUNS, SWORDS,SHIELDS,ARMOR,POLEARMS,ECT. AND LOOK VERY REAL. THERE ARE ALSO POORLY MADE REPLICAS WHICH ARE EASY TO SEE THEY ARE NOT THE REAL THING. MANY OF THE TOLEDO SWORDS HAVE LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL GOLD AND SILVER PLATEING OR SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT, THEY ARE PRETTY TO LOOK AT BUT OFTEN NOT REPLICAS OF AUTHENTIC EXAMPLES EVEN THOUGH THE FORMS OF WEAPONS ARE ACCURATE.
THERE ARE ALSO MANY FANTASY ITEMS WHICH ARE WALLHANGERS IN THAT THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR USE. THEY ARE NOT REALLY DESIGNED FOR DECOR BUT ARE THERE FOR THE COLLECTABLES MARKET. SOME EXAMPLES WOULD BE WEAPONS FROM THE LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIES, STAR TRECK KLINGON WEAPONS,AND MANY OTHER MOVIES FEATURING EDGED WEAPONS. THE FIRST MOVIE REPLICA KNIFE I REMBER BEING MARKETED WAS THE RAMBO KNIFE FROM "FIRST BLOOD" IT MAY BE THE FATHER OF THE FANTASY HUNTING KNIFE TYPES.

THERE ARE ALSO MANY TYPES OF FANTASY WEAPONS MADE THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MOVIES OR TELEVISION SHOWS. FANTASY WEAPONS ARE NOT COLLECTED FOR THE HISTORY, EVENTS OR SOCIETYS WHO USED THEM BUT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NEAT LOOKING OR REPRESENT THE WEAPON OF YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE CHARACTER.
THERE ARE ALSO LOTS OF SWORDS AND ACCESSORIES MADE FOR REINACTORS SUCH AS CIVIL WAR, SCOTTISH,ECT. THEY ARE NOT SHARP OR DESIGNED FOR USE BUT ARE NOT WALLHANGERS EITHER BUT USED FOR PART OF THE COSTUME THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THEATRICAL PROP WEAPONS.

Well said Vandoo!
A good explanation for this unusual sector of collectible weaponry,
see the current discussion on 1730 rapier posted by Katana as well.

Best regards,
Jim

Spunjer · 27th November 2006, 12:49 AM

i was reading that post with interest, jim. thanks for the pointing out the thread..

Mark · 27th November 2006, 03:20 AM

I would add a further dimension to the meaning of "wall-hanger," namely that it is a decorative weapon/item out of its cultural context. By that I mean that it is a facsimile of some sort of an actual or imagined "real" weapon, made for decorative purposes where such decorative purposes are not part of its cultural context.

Many cultures made non-functional display weapons (various West African tribes come to mind, and such things as the enormous "bearing swords" in Europe). I would not call these "wall-hangers," because being decorative is their proper cultural context and use.

The term is definately vernacular. You won't see it in any treatise or museum display.

27th November 2006, 12:49 AM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	i was reading that post with interest, jim. thanks for the pointing out the thread..

27th November 2006, 03:20 AM	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I would add a further dimension to the meaning of "wall-hanger," namely that it is a decorative weapon/item out of its cultural context. By that I mean that it is a facsimile of some sort of an actual or imagined "real" weapon, made for decorative purposes where such decorative purposes are not part of its cultural context. Many cultures made non-functional display weapons (various West African tribes come to mind, and such things as the enormous "bearing swords" in Europe). I would not call these "wall-hangers," because being decorative is their proper cultural context and use. The term is definately vernacular. You won't see it in any treatise or museum display.