Rack of Boar Spears Manton & Co Calcutta

[Cathey]

HI Guys

We acquired this set in its original rack 20 years ago. They were originally brought to Australia by a collector over forty years before we managed to secure them. In all the years we have been collecting we have never seen another set in an original rack. Has anyone else ever seen a set like these? We are assuming that they have come out of a British officer’s mess in India. We would be most interested in your thoughts and comments, detailed descriptions below and they were a pain to photograph.

Set of Six Boar Spears in Rack
Date: 1869-74?
Nationality: British made by Manton & Co Calcutta
Dimensions: Six spears First from the left as follows:
1. Bodraj head 4” (10 cm) long, Overall 6 ft 7” (201 cm)
2. Diamond Head 2 ¾ “ (6.5 cm). Overall 6ft 9” (206 cm)
3. Bodraj head 4” (10 cm) long, Overall 8ft 9” (266 cm)
4. Bodraj head 4” (10 cm) long, Overall 8 ft 10” (269 cm)
5. Diamond Head 2 ¾ “ (6.5 cm). Overall 6ft 9” (206 cm)
6. Bodraj head 4” (10 cm) long, Overall 6 ft 7” (201 cm)

Marks, etc.: Heads marked Manton & Co Calcutta, Bottoms marked A.M.

Description: POLE ARM – SPEARS Set of six Manton Boar Spears consisting of 4 Bodraj heads the sockets ending in a flat leaf-like reinforcing spine or rib and 2 Diamond heads. The six spears all have heavy lead weighted bottoms 4 of which have the initials A.M. carved into them and are mounted in dark wood wall bracket. The spears range in size between 6 ft 7” and 8ft 10” and the shafts are of dark bamboo.

There is a spear in the Tower of London Armouries stamped with the famous gun makers Manton & Co of Calcutta.

References:
BLACKMORE, Howard L.THE ARMS & ARMOUR SERIES HUNTING WEAPONS Pp 99, 241, 243, 252, 295,312, pl 119.
GARDNER, Colonel Robert E, Small Arms Makers Pp 288


Cheers Cathey and Rex

[Berkley]

Excellent set! Congratulations.
It appears that "Bodraj" was the proprietary name of a well-known maker from Aurangbad (LINK). Manton & Co. apparently used the name "Bayleaf" for their version of the spearhead design.

[Cathey]

Hi Berkley

Thankyou so much for the advert, can you tell me where it came from, the date of the publication etc? Thanks you also for the link, the article was very interesting and I loved the cartoon (see attached). I have also attached the reference from Blackmore that I used to describe the spears originally, however I will now update my reference in line with the advert. Thank again

Cathey and Rex.

[Berkley]

The illustration is page 113 from the 1926-27 "Price List of Guns, Rifles, Ammunition and Sporting Goods" of "Manton & Co.; 13, Old Court House Street, Calcutta and Kashmir Gate, Delhi - Established 1825". Even at that relatively recent date the catalog features not only spears but also presentation tulwars, shikar knives, double and single barrel muzzle-loading guns, as well as the most up-to-date custom cartridge weapons by Manton.

[kahnjar1]

http://www.cornellpubs.com/old-guns/...hp?item_id=473
Hi Cathy,
You might be interested in this. A reprint of the catalogue refered to by Berkley.
Regards Stuart