Inherited Weapons - Wanting Information -- myArmoury.com

T Hamby

My husband recently acquired, what we were told, were medieval weapons, from his grandfather who has passed away. There are 4 of them in a display stand. Including the wooden handles, the weapons are aproximately 5 to 6 feet long. I have attached a picture, I hope, that will show what I am trying to explain. As you have probably guessed, we are completely new to the field and do not know where to begin to find out information about them. We would like the weapons dated and find out where they came from. The are awesome pieces and great discussion starters. We had them displayed in our hall until we had a son and had to put them up so he couldn't get hurt.

Any help I could get on where or how to get them dated, or actually any information I could get on them would be very helpful and I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!!![img][/img]

T Hamby · Posted: Thu 19 Apr, 2007 12:25 pm Post subject:

Okay - I see the picture did not attach. Let me try again.

Martin Kopf · Posted: Thu 19 Apr, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

To me these weapons look like weapons from the so called Boxer revolution in China,in the end of the nineteenth century and are linked to the chinese martial arts,but it's just a guess

Allan Senefelder · Industry Professional

The one in the forefront with the reversed hook on one side appears to be a boarding pike. Close up photos of the heads of each and any interesting details of them would help any who might have information for you.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 19 Apr, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject:

They're Asian, to be sure, and they look like good quality arms intended for use as opposed to decorative pieces. I would second Martin's 19th c. dating. Stone's Glossary most likely shows these, but I don't have my copy handy.

E Stafford · Posted: Tue 24 Apr, 2007 3:57 am Post subject:

The big one is a Kwan dao, or looks like it. Big knife on a pole. There are a few on WLE.com which look similar. I don't know what the trident is, or the last one.

Martin Whalen · Posted: Tue 24 Apr, 2007 7:35 am Post subject:

I agree with the 19th century Chinese opinion, that's what came to mind the second I saw them. Now that you know what to loosely base your search for information on, finding books on the subject will be much easier. Good luck, Big Grin

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Nate C. · Posted: Tue 24 Apr, 2007 10:50 am Post subject:

Here is a pic I found on this site: http://thomaschen.freewebspace.com/photo4.html (pop-ups unfortunately)

[image removed because of linking issues. see the link above-^]

Nate C. · Posted: Tue 24 Apr, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Tue 24 Apr, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject:

The Trident looks to be a Chinese Tiger Spear Page 629, figure 800 picture 3 in George Cameron Stone's Glossary of Weapons.

The Kwando is also a Chinese weapon.

The others if they came from the same source/purchase may also be Chinese but could be European boarding weapons or
siege types that were used to move around " facines " or dirtfilled wicker baskets that were the period equivalent of sandbags used for field fortifications. They would also serve as weapons.

So I would say that two of them are identified as to type but exact period unsure and two could also be Chinese with the possibility that they are not.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Tue 01 May, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject:

From the Frazier: