Conquistador's sword

[surfaceone]

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Hello Mike,

I think Charlie called it. I'm guessing it might be a Zhanmadao or anti-cavalry weapon. You might run it by the Asian Art Museum when next you are in the City. Another epic piece of California history you have discovered, sir!

 

[Potlidboy]

Thanks all....This forum is a wealth of information [] You never know what is going to come out of the ground.

 

[Plumbata]

That sword is awesome. I agree with cyber/surf; it looks Chinese to me. Possibly Japanese but it wouldn't be my first guess. If it had any markings, they probably would have been chiseled into the tang. I'm not sure if you scrubbed and scrutinized the tang before affixing the replacement handle (great job on that!) but that's where I'd look. Also, instead of terrestrial animal hide, the handle may have been covered with shark skin. Them thar Asians liked doing things the hard way, lol.

Why on earth did its former owners decide to carry it across the Pacific? Who knows, but that piece is absolutely awesome whatever the backstory. Thanks for sharing!

 

[myersdiggers1998]

Here is a photo of a viking sword in the yorkshire museum.