is it possible for blood/flesh to remain on a blade for over a century....

Jim McDougall · 22nd July 2008, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevalier

..and yes, i took the quote from a wikipedia page on the arms of skanderbeg.

ive been interested in surviving arms of kings/chiefs/military commanders in europe and elsewhere.

Busy minds are happy minds!

What the heck did we ever do before computers!!! Back in the old days I could never have imagined all this info at my fingertips.

Andrew · 22nd July 2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Busy minds are happy minds!

What the heck did we ever do before computers!!! Back in the old days I could never have imagined all this info at my fingertips.

Yes, but you did have papyrus available to you back then, didn't you, Jim?

Jim McDougall · 22nd July 2008, 04:06 PM

LOL!!! (as I try not to lose the swallow of soda on my keyboard!!!

That was good Andrew!!! I guess it has been a couple of years.
Thank you, that made my week!

Thank you Mark for the info on these spearheads, I really didn't know there were a number of them.

While this information is of course readily available online to all of us, I think it is great when material on a topic is compiled by someone into data that can be reviewed and discussed. This way we all learn together! (I know I keep saying that, but to me thats what its all about).

Thank you guys

Atlantia · 22nd July 2008, 10:06 PM

The whole lance thing is a bit of a shame really. Of all of the purported Jesus relics, its the one that 'could' possibly have survived in reasonable order.
Well, and the nails of course, but even one of them makes an appearance as a 'guest star' in the Spear legends.
If memory serves, none are earlier than 3rd C. Still I'd like to have a Roman or Byzantine spear, so I'd not kick any of them out the door.

The 'real' one would be a sweet addition to a collection! Not many weapons have 'slain a god'.
Of course, in that 'parrallel universe', I'd swap it in a heartbeat for Excalibur!

chevalier · 23rd July 2008, 12:59 AM

heres the weapon i thought about bidding on with the purported "blood" on it....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230270071036

it stayed at 99 dollars until the last half hour or so of the auction.........i REALLY am at a loss as to how or why the price rose THAT MUCH in the last 20 or so minutes of the auction........i doubt this peice is worth that much......

Atlantia · 23rd July 2008, 02:31 AM

The hilt is a nice one, but its difficult to see how the blade will look good again without major restoration.
The price seems quite strong to me.

kronckew · 23rd July 2008, 06:23 AM

if there is sticky brown stuff on it, and not rust as it appears, it could be cosmoline grease, courtesy of the US Army bringer-backer.

p.s. -for atlantia, there were eight excalibur swords for sale on epray this a.m., you might get lucky

if the romans had discovered cosmoline, we'd be awash in old roman weapons in as-issued condition but covered in the most persistant substance known to man.

p.p.s - on dating the lances, there was a show on TV here in the UK about the hapsburg lance, i believe they did not date the lance itself, but some organic material on it (wood in the socket?) as metal doesn't date well with c14 tests. also about half the lance's metal was later additions, the viking wings, the waisted section below the gold foil wrap etc. were confirmed by xray to be later additions, the basic leaf shaped roman style blade was untouched as the present guardians would not let them sample that part. likewise the nail wired to the central incision, i think they did sample a bit of the wire. even if those bits are 700ad, that doesn't mean the rest is. it'd be like saying the mona lisa is a fake because it's in a 19c frame.

when you repair, reconstruct, embellish an old blade when does it stop being the original?

23rd July 2008, 06:23 AM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	if there is sticky brown stuff on it, and not rust as it appears, it could be cosmoline grease, courtesy of the US Army bringer-backer. p.s. -for atlantia, there were eight excalibur swords for sale on epray this a.m., you might get lucky if the romans had discovered cosmoline, we'd be awash in old roman weapons in as-issued condition but covered in the most persistant substance known to man. p.p.s - on dating the lances, there was a show on TV here in the UK about the hapsburg lance, i believe they did not date the lance itself, but some organic material on it (wood in the socket?) as metal doesn't date well with c14 tests. also about half the lance's metal was later additions, the viking wings, the waisted section below the gold foil wrap etc. were confirmed by xray to be later additions, the basic leaf shaped roman style blade was untouched as the present guardians would not let them sample that part. likewise the nail wired to the central incision, i think they did sample a bit of the wire. even if those bits are 700ad, that doesn't mean the rest is. it'd be like saying the mona lisa is a fake because it's in a 19c frame. when you repair, reconstruct, embellish an old blade when does it stop being the original? Last edited by kronckew; 23rd July 2008 at 06:51 AM.

22nd July 2008, 04:06 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,663	LOL!!! (as I try not to lose the swallow of soda on my keyboard!!! That was good Andrew!!! I guess it has been a couple of years. Thank you, that made my week! Thank you Mark for the info on these spearheads, I really didn't know there were a number of them. While this information is of course readily available online to all of us, I think it is great when material on a topic is compiled by someone into data that can be reviewed and discussed. This way we all learn together! (I know I keep saying that, but to me thats what its all about). Thank you guys

22nd July 2008, 10:06 PM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	The whole lance thing is a bit of a shame really. Of all of the purported Jesus relics, its the one that 'could' possibly have survived in reasonable order. Well, and the nails of course, but even one of them makes an appearance as a 'guest star' in the Spear legends. If memory serves, none are earlier than 3rd C. Still I'd like to have a Roman or Byzantine spear, so I'd not kick any of them out the door. The 'real' one would be a sweet addition to a collection! Not many weapons have 'slain a god'. Of course, in that 'parrallel universe', I'd swap it in a heartbeat for Excalibur!

23rd July 2008, 12:59 AM	#5
chevalier Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 119	heres the weapon i thought about bidding on with the purported "blood" on it.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230270071036 it stayed at 99 dollars until the last half hour or so of the auction.........i REALLY am at a loss as to how or why the price rose THAT MUCH in the last 20 or so minutes of the auction........i doubt this peice is worth that much......

23rd July 2008, 02:31 AM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	The hilt is a nice one, but its difficult to see how the blade will look good again without major restoration. The price seems quite strong to me.