Dragon Head Sword Handle from Colonial Era Site

[mbcuce]

Updated- Hunt a good hunt this afternoon finding the usual for a colonial era site, musket balls, furniture tacks, some plain buttons. For some reason this site had a lot of buckles. Found 5 in great shape including a spectacle buckle.



Then I found something I really wasnt expecting. A sword or knife handle with a dragon head. There is also a griffin inlaid on it as well. Haven't been able to find anything like it on line. Now LS had identified it as a British Military "Dog Head" Sword Handle:



After Lost Signals ID and then he realized he had the matching guard and I looked at my earlier findings and had a piece of a knuckle guard that I never had any idea what it was.


At this rate we will have the whole thing by tonight.

 

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[Silver Tree Chaser]

A knife or sword handle fragment seems like the right call to me. Perhaps a dagger handle? Regardless of its exact identity, it's very cool. It exudes militaria - Rev. War no doubt. And the buckles are terrific.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[cheffer]

That's gorgeous, can't wait to hear more!

 

[Lost Signal]

Okay, this is my best ID ever. I found an example of this sword in the Colonial Williamsburg Museum's website.
https://emuseum.history.org/objects/98826/british-dogs-head-hanger
It's a British military sword from around 1690. The information on the site is pretty interesting.

 

[Blak bart]

Banner !! I was just waiting for that last post...that thing is killer !! 1690 !! Wow !! Very nice save congrats !!

 

[mbcuce]

Okay, this is my best ID ever. I found an example of this sword in the Colonial Williamsburg Museum's website.
https://emuseum.history.org/objects/98826/british-dogs-head-hanger
It's a British military sword from around 1690. The information on the site is pretty interesting.
View attachment 1907630
View attachment 1907631

That's amazing. That's it exactly. I never would have guessed that this is British military. I later realized an odd scrap I found at the same site was part of it as well.


I have to get back out and find the rest.

 

[tamrock]

Very interesting discovery.

 

[Gene Mean]

Awesome finds! I hope we see the whole sword back together.

 

[Lost Signal]

Awesome finds! I hope we see the whole sword back together.

It's funny you should mention that... Last night, when I found the sword on the Colonial Williamsburg Museum website, I stared at it pretty closely, studying the design of the handle. For some reason, it was not until this morning that I looked at the guard. It seemed familiar. Because I dug one almost two years ago. It looks like a different material, but maybe that's how they were made, and then everything was guilted. This blows my mind. mbcuce was with me when I dug the guard, and I was with him when he dug the handle. Two different sites.

I talked to mbcuce this morning, and I think he might have found part of a knuckle guard from another of these same swords, from yet another site. He'll probably post a picture.

We're getting close....

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/w...lics-sword-guard-cross-belt-plate-buckle.html

 

[Calabash Digger]

Nice!

 

[Silvermonkey]

That is such a cool find! It's even better now that you have an ID. Congrats!

 

[pepperj]

What a great recovery, and YES to get out and see if one can recover more of it. Congrats!

 

[CRUSADER]

That's amazing. That's it exactly. I never would have guessed that this is British military. I later realized an odd scrap I found at the same site was part of it as well.
View attachment 1907647

I have to get back out and find the rest.

Yes go back & look!

 

[oldmxrat]

Wow, great save! Very cool!

 

[Tnmountains]

Wow that handle is spectacular and what a good I.D you got. Now have everyone check their dig pouches for the rest. That is simply amazing.

 

[billb]

Congratulations I’m voting Banner on your sword handle recovery

 

[mbcuce]

Thanks everyone. Now I just need to figure out how to display it.

 

[JeffInMass]

Awesome finds everywhere- Congrats!!

 

[dts52]

Incredible finds. Congratulations.
dts