Sixteen Hungover Oarsman

[pullrich]

Thought you folks might get a kick out of this:

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Interesting! You could potentially make that out as an interpretation of an atgeir, though we don't know what they looked like historically. All we can surmise is that they were shortish "hewing spear" class weapons.

 

[SeaxyBeast]

Interesting! You could potentially make that out as an interpretation of an atgeir, though we don't know what they looked like historically. All we can surmise is that they were shortish "hewing spear" class weapons.

This one looks a lot like some straight-bladed Filipino panabas I've seen in the proportions. For better or worse a panabas like seax is what I always picture for the heptiseax in Grettir's Saga...i.e. a knife-on-a-stick. Pretty effective against lightly armored opponents in loose skirmishes.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I may just be seeing things but it looks like it's sitting edge-up in the profile shot, so closer in form to a dha than a panabas or seax?

 

[pullrich]

You are correct sir it is edge up in the profile shot. I had to google all these sword types you're discussing, lol.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

LOL yeah we're nerds in true fashion here, huh? :thumbup:

 

[SeaxyBeast]

I may just be seeing things but it looks like it's sitting edge-up in the profile shot, so closer in form to a dha than a panabas or seax?

Yeah, I think a dha is a better comparison, but that's not the first thing I thought of, mostly because of the stories I've heard in training about wielding a panabas. Some of the examples I've been shown looked like 2' goloks with a 2' handle. They could have been just that given how the Manongs in Central California would improvise tools and weapons that they couldn't buy in the States. Don't think I've ever actually seen a live panabas that looks like the ones in the pics on the Web.

Like the face carvings. They've got the right feel for Viking oarsmen.

 

[foxx]

You guys are speaking a new language to me, but I like it. I'd like to hold something like that, to get a feel for it's weight and mass distribution. It just looks like it would be perfect for unarmored opponents.
It looks like that one has a flat blade stock, like a machete, is that the case? Were these ever made thicker, ground like a katana?

 

[Pueo154]

Yeah, I'm thinking an atgeir myself. Since, as Forty Two Blades has already said, it's described as a "hewing spear" I've always pictured a sort of glaive like weapon. If it had a longer haft (say 3-1/2' - 4') it would make a very passable glaive, as those were essentially a "short, single-edged sword on a stick".

 

[pullrich]

It looks like that one has a flat blade stock, like a machete, is that the case?

Funny you should say that. I guess it's cat-out-of-bag time. The blade IS from a machete, a 1942 Collins in fact.

 

[foxx]

Ohhhh, machete on a stick! That's awesome, I've been thinking about that myself. How did you attach the two, pins or..
I was worried about just having the 3 screws through the handle, and that not being strong enough to take the impacts. Cause, those impacts would be harder than the original shorter handle. I have an extra 18" heavy duty Ontario waiting for this kind of project, and I have several handle options lying around. Like some hickory wheel burrow handles, think Ontario Naginata,
Pullrich, have you used it much, soft targets or any wood chopping?

 

[pullrich]

Foxx I hope you get into the machete mod project you mention, could get a nice thread going.

The stick is the handle of an old baseball bat. I sawed a groove in it and drilled holes to match the ones on the machete, brass pins attached the two, along with epoxy. Solid fit but it was ugly so I covered it with the false sinew that you see in the pics. I havent used it much at all because it is dull. I've held off sharpening it myself....considering paying for a pro job so the dings and dents can be dealt with effectively. Until the zombie apocalypse arrives, my aim is to use it for trimming the high shrubs, hanging evergreen fronds, and hedges in my yard. So it won't need to deal with much impact unless I goof up. It's a machete after all, not a golok or axe for that matter. The curious things about this blade are its cutlass profile and distal taper. Really quite sword-like, not at all like the hardware store machete I have rusting in my shed. I don't know if it was produced this way back in 1942 or if someone mod'd it.

Wonder how the weapons discussed so far in this thread were joined at blade and handle?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Collins blade? NICE!!! The distal taper is original--Collins did a mighty fine job at tapering their blades. Only Martindale and Imacasa/Condor still bother to do a good job putting distal taper on their machetes these days. Really makes a big difference in handling and performance! As far as the resemblance to a cutlass, that's actually one of Collin's LESS weaponized machetes! The made a bunch of "aggressive" models all the way up to cutachas! (see below)

 

[pullrich]

Now THAT is aggressive.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Tell me about it! In addition to use as a weapon they were worn as a status symbol. From what I've read it seems they were in use by plantation overseers, police, militia, and revolutionary groups.