Wehrmacht officers dagger

Philip · 13th January 2007, 06:25 AM

Fenlander, I agree with your premise. But why not let the forum moderators come forward with an official policy containing the parameters if they think it desireable. I still think that posting it as a "sticky" is a good idea.

I suppose that Europe is already represented after a fact on the appropriate discussion board attached to this venue. However, I realize that some of the blades that we might find interesting in a certain context, such as Genoese saber blades with "eyelash" marks in Indian talwar hilts, won't fit into the "medieval" time frame either. A certain amount of flexibility and balanced judgement on the part of all us participants should forestall any "problems" of scope and interpretation.

M ELEY · 13th January 2007, 04:24 PM

I walk the line on this argument. While it would be sad to have this forum over-run with qustions on M1860 Ames cavalry sabers and British infantry swords, I believe that a smattering of them now and again reminds us of how ethnographic pieces affected the west and vice-versa. As someone has already pointed out, there a very specific sites for American civil war swords, for example. That being said, it is rather hard to strictly define what constitutes "ethnographic", especially based on one's own culture and perspective. We have had great discussions here on Romanian swords, Scottish basket hilts, colonial Spanish weapons, and "pirate" weapons in the past. With this open style, I think we all have learned for the better. If a forumite is completely dis-interested in Euro weapons, they can ignore the thread. Likewise, if there is an individual who inundates this site with a ton of such swords, their questions will undoubtedly be ignored for lack of interest or knowledge and they will go away. In brief, leave it like it is, but I am for a policy that more broadly defines ethno pieces to ones not mass-produced industrially. In this way, an unidentified dagger that turns out to be a Confederate bowie (and not a Philippine bolo, as many Confed pieces really turn out to be) can still generate fascinating discussions on form, use, etc. My 2 cents...

VANDOO · 13th January 2007, 05:03 PM

I COULD BE WRONG BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE FORUM WILL NOT BE SMOTHERED IN INQUIRES ABOUT SUCH WEAPONS. WE USED TO HAVE A SEPARATE CATAGORY FOR EUROPEAN ARMS AND ARMOR ON THE FORUM AND IT LANGUISHED AWAY WITH SO FEW POSTS THAT IT WAS DISCONTINUED.

PERHAPS A STICKY WITH LINKS TO SITES DEALING WITH, GERMAN WEAPONS OLD AND NEW, JAPANESE, AMERICAN, ENGLISH,FRENCH,RUSSIAN, MIDEVEL, ECT. THAT WOULD GIVE POTENTIAL POSTERS A MORE SPECIFIC REFRENCE ON WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE KNOWLEGE THEY SEEK.

Philip · 13th January 2007, 08:06 PM

Mr. Eley
I would tend to think that most of us would stand by your view on the matter. General guidelines are fine, but insistence on dogmatic adherence immutable commandments, and the inevitable catfights that can result, are what we want to avoid. So far, I haven't seen this forum being "flooded" with posts dealing with bayonets, American Civil War sabers, or fraternal lodge swords so I think that we're doing just fine.

fernando · 13th January 2007, 09:11 PM

It looks like it is rather dificult to define in a sticky what is an ethnographic weapon without being arbitrarian or controversial. From what i see in the dictionaries, the term is more comprehensive than some wish to put it. It seems not to be necessarily rustic, or handcraft, but rather relative to Peoples customs habits and differences, in a general manner. As already aproached here, what is vulgar for an Arab, could be exotic for an European, and vice versa. A good nazi sword ( not the cheap stuff ) is so culturally interesting as a dha or a kris, or any other item often discussed here ... unless this is a restricted Forum, which is not the case, so far. It is impossible that weapons are not allways intrinsecally relative to religious or politic situations. But for what it matters in collecting, such implication deflects over the cuirasse of our indiference. As also aproached here, if a guy keeps posting specimens that do not belong to the general taste of the members, will soon be abandoned due to lack of interest ( that could well be my case ). But it should ( could ) be kept in mind that not all members limit their collections to only edged weapons, of only one or two types. I think this Forum is also open for general variety and general culture, and not just for speciality and scholarship in determined items. Let you not create an atmosphere where one is "afraid" to post images of a specimen, because it might not fall within the "selected" items.
The attached is a nice officer's parade saber, apparently made in the Wheimar period, later beautifully hand engraved and reintegrated in the the Nazi period, according to the backing history i had with it, when i bought in a local antiquarian.
fernando

VANDOO · 13th January 2007, 10:35 PM

I THINK WE ALL TEND TO THINK OF ETHINOGRAPHIC AS REFERING TO PRIMATIVE SIMPLE SOCIETYS OF TODAY OR IN THE PAST. IN FACT ALL SOCIETYS ARE ETHINOGRAPHIC REGARDLESS OF HOW ADVANCED OR PRIMATIVE THEY ARE. THERE ARE ALWAYS DIFFERENCES IN BELIEFS,TRADITIONS AND CRAFTS FROM ONE GROUP TO ANOTHER . MANKIND AND SOCIETY ARE NOT UNIFORM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND CHANGES WITH TIME AND TECKNOLOGY, BUT IS STILL ETHINOGRAPHIC IN MANY WAYS.

I PERSONALLY PREFER THE ITEMS FROM TIMES AND SOCIETYS NEARER THE TRIBAL DAYS. BUT WHAT OF THE KERIS OR KRIS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER WEAPONS YOU CAN'T CLASSIFY THOSE EARLY CIVILAZATIONS AS TRIBAL.

I THINK THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS NOT THE PLACE,TIME OR SOCIETY BUT THE TECKNOLOGY USED AND THE WAY IT HAS BEEN MADE. WHEN A LARGE MODERN FACTORY TURNS OUT A SUPPLY OF THOUSANDS OF SWORDS TO SUPPLY A MODERN ARMY WE SAY THATS NOT ETHINOGRAPHIC BUT MILITARY. SO AMERICAN ARMY SWORDS WOULD BE MILITARY ,HOWEVER SPEARS COULD BE MADE FOR A MUCH LARGER GROUP OF ZULU ALL TO THE SAME SPEC'S BUT BY SEVERAL FORGES USING MORE PRIMATIVE METHODS AND WOULD BE CALLED ETHINOGRAPHIC.

ITS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE AND WE MIGHT FEEL INSULTED IF A COLLECTOR OF MILITARY BLADES CALLED OUR COLLECTION MILITARY AND HE WOULD NO DOUBT ARGUE IF I CALLED HIS COLLECTION ETHINOGRAPHIC.

OUR FORUM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE EVERYTHING AND EVEN IF IT COULD IT WOULD JUST TAKE TOO MUCH TIME TO GO THRU ALL THE POSTS. SO IT IS BEST TO STAY LARGELY TO OUR TYPES OF INTREST TO KEEP THINGS FROM GETTING OVERLOADED OR BOGGED DOWN. THERE ARE NO DOUBT FORUMS SOMEWHERE FOR MOST INTRESTS AND IT IS BEST TO KEEP THINGS SEPARATED. ITS KIND OF LIKE HAVING FOLDERS WITH LIKE THINGS IN THEM FOR EASE OF USE VERSES A BIG PILE WITH EVERYTHING IN IT WHERE NOTHING CAN BE EASILY FOUND.

M ELEY · 14th January 2007, 02:04 AM

Point well taken, Barry, but what of colonial American swords, for instance. These types of swords are often one-of-a-kind, blacksmith-made, often from other sword parts and constitute a kind of folk art. They, like ethnographic pieces, are often misunderstood and there are very few sites that cover them. Likewise, colonial Spanish/Mexican pieces are, IMHO, fascinating and ethnographic. As I said earlier, a Model 1899 such and such doesn't belong here, but the occasional NON-TRIBAL weapon adds color and perspective occasionally.

13th January 2007, 06:25 AM	#1
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	You have a point Fenlander, I agree with your premise. But why not let the forum moderators come forward with an official policy containing the parameters if they think it desireable. I still think that posting it as a "sticky" is a good idea. I suppose that Europe is already represented after a fact on the appropriate discussion board attached to this venue. However, I realize that some of the blades that we might find interesting in a certain context, such as Genoese saber blades with "eyelash" marks in Indian talwar hilts, won't fit into the "medieval" time frame either. A certain amount of flexibility and balanced judgement on the part of all us participants should forestall any "problems" of scope and interpretation.

13th January 2007, 09:11 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	catharsis It looks like it is rather dificult to define in a sticky what is an ethnographic weapon without being arbitrarian or controversial. From what i see in the dictionaries, the term is more comprehensive than some wish to put it. It seems not to be necessarily rustic, or handcraft, but rather relative to Peoples customs habits and differences, in a general manner. As already aproached here, what is vulgar for an Arab, could be exotic for an European, and vice versa. A good nazi sword ( not the cheap stuff ) is so culturally interesting as a dha or a kris, or any other item often discussed here ... unless this is a restricted Forum, which is not the case, so far. It is impossible that weapons are not allways intrinsecally relative to religious or politic situations. But for what it matters in collecting, such implication deflects over the cuirasse of our indiference. As also aproached here, if a guy keeps posting specimens that do not belong to the general taste of the members, will soon be abandoned due to lack of interest ( that could well be my case ). But it should ( could ) be kept in mind that not all members limit their collections to only edged weapons, of only one or two types. I think this Forum is also open for general variety and general culture, and not just for speciality and scholarship in determined items. Let you not create an atmosphere where one is "afraid" to post images of a specimen, because it might not fall within the "selected" items. The attached is a nice officer's parade saber, apparently made in the Wheimar period, later beautifully hand engraved and reintegrated in the the Nazi period, according to the backing history i had with it, when i bought in a local antiquarian. fernando Attached Images

13th January 2007, 04:24 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	I walk the line on this argument. While it would be sad to have this forum over-run with qustions on M1860 Ames cavalry sabers and British infantry swords, I believe that a smattering of them now and again reminds us of how ethnographic pieces affected the west and vice-versa. As someone has already pointed out, there a very specific sites for American civil war swords, for example. That being said, it is rather hard to strictly define what constitutes "ethnographic", especially based on one's own culture and perspective. We have had great discussions here on Romanian swords, Scottish basket hilts, colonial Spanish weapons, and "pirate" weapons in the past. With this open style, I think we all have learned for the better. If a forumite is completely dis-interested in Euro weapons, they can ignore the thread. Likewise, if there is an individual who inundates this site with a ton of such swords, their questions will undoubtedly be ignored for lack of interest or knowledge and they will go away. In brief, leave it like it is, but I am for a policy that more broadly defines ethno pieces to ones not mass-produced industrially. In this way, an unidentified dagger that turns out to be a Confederate bowie (and not a Philippine bolo, as many Confed pieces really turn out to be) can still generate fascinating discussions on form, use, etc. My 2 cents...

13th January 2007, 05:03 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I COULD BE WRONG BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE FORUM WILL NOT BE SMOTHERED IN INQUIRES ABOUT SUCH WEAPONS. WE USED TO HAVE A SEPARATE CATAGORY FOR EUROPEAN ARMS AND ARMOR ON THE FORUM AND IT LANGUISHED AWAY WITH SO FEW POSTS THAT IT WAS DISCONTINUED. PERHAPS A STICKY WITH LINKS TO SITES DEALING WITH, GERMAN WEAPONS OLD AND NEW, JAPANESE, AMERICAN, ENGLISH,FRENCH,RUSSIAN, MIDEVEL, ECT. THAT WOULD GIVE POTENTIAL POSTERS A MORE SPECIFIC REFRENCE ON WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE KNOWLEGE THEY SEEK.

13th January 2007, 08:06 PM	#4
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Mr. Eley I would tend to think that most of us would stand by your view on the matter. General guidelines are fine, but insistence on dogmatic adherence immutable commandments, and the inevitable catfights that can result, are what we want to avoid. So far, I haven't seen this forum being "flooded" with posts dealing with bayonets, American Civil War sabers, or fraternal lodge swords so I think that we're doing just fine.

13th January 2007, 10:35 PM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I THINK WE ALL TEND TO THINK OF ETHINOGRAPHIC AS REFERING TO PRIMATIVE SIMPLE SOCIETYS OF TODAY OR IN THE PAST. IN FACT ALL SOCIETYS ARE ETHINOGRAPHIC REGARDLESS OF HOW ADVANCED OR PRIMATIVE THEY ARE. THERE ARE ALWAYS DIFFERENCES IN BELIEFS,TRADITIONS AND CRAFTS FROM ONE GROUP TO ANOTHER . MANKIND AND SOCIETY ARE NOT UNIFORM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND CHANGES WITH TIME AND TECKNOLOGY, BUT IS STILL ETHINOGRAPHIC IN MANY WAYS. I PERSONALLY PREFER THE ITEMS FROM TIMES AND SOCIETYS NEARER THE TRIBAL DAYS. BUT WHAT OF THE KERIS OR KRIS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER WEAPONS YOU CAN'T CLASSIFY THOSE EARLY CIVILAZATIONS AS TRIBAL. I THINK THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS NOT THE PLACE,TIME OR SOCIETY BUT THE TECKNOLOGY USED AND THE WAY IT HAS BEEN MADE. WHEN A LARGE MODERN FACTORY TURNS OUT A SUPPLY OF THOUSANDS OF SWORDS TO SUPPLY A MODERN ARMY WE SAY THATS NOT ETHINOGRAPHIC BUT MILITARY. SO AMERICAN ARMY SWORDS WOULD BE MILITARY ,HOWEVER SPEARS COULD BE MADE FOR A MUCH LARGER GROUP OF ZULU ALL TO THE SAME SPEC'S BUT BY SEVERAL FORGES USING MORE PRIMATIVE METHODS AND WOULD BE CALLED ETHINOGRAPHIC. ITS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE AND WE MIGHT FEEL INSULTED IF A COLLECTOR OF MILITARY BLADES CALLED OUR COLLECTION MILITARY AND HE WOULD NO DOUBT ARGUE IF I CALLED HIS COLLECTION ETHINOGRAPHIC. OUR FORUM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE EVERYTHING AND EVEN IF IT COULD IT WOULD JUST TAKE TOO MUCH TIME TO GO THRU ALL THE POSTS. SO IT IS BEST TO STAY LARGELY TO OUR TYPES OF INTREST TO KEEP THINGS FROM GETTING OVERLOADED OR BOGGED DOWN. THERE ARE NO DOUBT FORUMS SOMEWHERE FOR MOST INTRESTS AND IT IS BEST TO KEEP THINGS SEPARATED. ITS KIND OF LIKE HAVING FOLDERS WITH LIKE THINGS IN THEM FOR EASE OF USE VERSES A BIG PILE WITH EVERYTHING IN IT WHERE NOTHING CAN BE EASILY FOUND.

14th January 2007, 02:04 AM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Point well taken, Barry, but what of colonial American swords, for instance. These types of swords are often one-of-a-kind, blacksmith-made, often from other sword parts and constitute a kind of folk art. They, like ethnographic pieces, are often misunderstood and there are very few sites that cover them. Likewise, colonial Spanish/Mexican pieces are, IMHO, fascinating and ethnographic. As I said earlier, a Model 1899 such and such doesn't belong here, but the occasional NON-TRIBAL weapon adds color and perspective occasionally.