Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Bayonet



This was apparently being used as a poker in the fireplace here, dirty and disregarded. Cleaned it up, along with the other bits of iron, and returned it to it's place. It's broken, pitted, rusted. Funny sort of sword.

B's husband came to the gathering, and was being pleasantly nosy, found this, and postulated that it is a Japanese bayonet. Circa WWII. Just a guess, but we decided to try and find out. Not that it will be worth any money, but certainly for a good story if we can find out. And that is worth somethin'/when you think about it/that is worth some money.

Cool, finally, although the sun is still warm. Snow possible for the weekend. Leaves all golden. Missing the reds, purples and full spectrum of the eastern trees, but everything is a trade.

6 comments:

The Crow said...

I think your sword is US Army issue, possibly cavalryman from a nearby fort, guessing mid- to late-1800s. Looks older than WW2, though certainly could be from that era, if made in some village where steel wasn't common.

I love a good history mystery!

Zhoen said...

See, I was thinking WWI, because the house was built in 1911. But Civil War makes sense too, in this area. Leftover weapons.

It's very short for a sword, though.

Nimble said...

hurray for a mystery object!

The Crow said...

Short swords were for close-quarters fighting - think soldier on horse fighting off someone on the ground trying to pull him off. A saber would be unwieldy. Sabers would be good for mounted combatants whose horses would put distance between them.

(I may have watched too many John Wayne, 7th cavalry, civil war movies.)

Zhoen said...

Crow,
It still seems very short for the purpose. It's got a strange shape and angle, as well.

Trying to contact the local military history museum for some assistance. An expert will probably be able to give us a good idea at a glance, since what do I know?

Phil Plasma said...

No such artifacts in my neighbourhood.