Old Firangi with unidentified maker's name

Tim Simmons · 25th March 2005, 10:16 PM

I have seen today through my PC, a firangi hilted mace for sale.Oddly it has the same complete overall rather uniform dry rust with no sign of previous care or use.None of the rust seems to have bit deeply for such a supposedly old blade.Am I just a suspisious old man?Tim

Jens Nordlunde · 26th March 2005, 10:18 AM

Besides, if the type face is Caslon, this would most likely mean, that the blade is English, but there can be several other possibilities, like French, German, Italian, Spanish and most likely a few others.

Jens

tom hyle · 26th March 2005, 05:29 PM

Seems there was an English (?) cutler "T Hollister" whose tools I've seen?

Ian · 8th April 2005, 03:38 PM

I posted this one over on the SFI military forum and one of the members there gave me a good lead on Thomas Hollier.I have since found that Thomas Hollier operated an amoury for the British Board of Ordinance in Lewisham from 1716-1753. There is a brief historical note here: http://gihs.gold.ac.uk/gihs19.html

Seems like a good candidate for manufacture of the blade above -- the time period would fit with the type style on the blade (probably Caslon Old Style, dating from 1725).

Putting this together, I would estimate the blade was made between 1725 and 1753, so an approximate date of circa 1750 would be a reasonable guess within 10-20 years.

Ian

Tim Simmons · 8th April 2005, 03:50 PM

Jolly good.

Tim

25th March 2005, 10:16 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,939	I have seen today through my PC, a firangi hilted mace for sale.Oddly it has the same complete overall rather uniform dry rust with no sign of previous care or use.None of the rust seems to have bit deeply for such a supposedly old blade.Am I just a suspisious old man?Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 25th March 2005 at 10:59 PM.

8th April 2005, 03:38 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,614	Success — maybe ??? I posted this one over on the SFI military forum and one of the members there gave me a good lead on Thomas Hollier.I have since found that Thomas Hollier operated an amoury for the British Board of Ordinance in Lewisham from 1716-1753. There is a brief historical note here: http://gihs.gold.ac.uk/gihs19.html Seems like a good candidate for manufacture of the blade above -- the time period would fit with the type style on the blade (probably Caslon Old Style, dating from 1725). Putting this together, I would estimate the blade was made between 1725 and 1753, so an approximate date of circa 1750 would be a reasonable guess within 10-20 years. Ian

26th March 2005, 10:18 AM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Besides, if the type face is Caslon, this would most likely mean, that the blade is English, but there can be several other possibilities, like French, German, Italian, Spanish and most likely a few others. Jens

26th March 2005, 05:29 PM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Seems there was an English (?) cutler "T Hollister" whose tools I've seen?

8th April 2005, 03:50 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,939	Jolly good. Tim