Item WC2 - Whaling Improved Toggle Harpoon.
Not a fake like most of the “harpoons” that you see, this in actual 19th
or early 20th
century toggle harpoon, marked with what are likely a Azorean whaling initials stamped in it. This innovative style of harpoon
was invented about 1850 by a black ship smith, Louis Temple, who worked in New
Bedford, Mass. Very shortly an improved design was developed and was made by
most of the ship smiths working in New Bedford. It was the most popular and
successful of the hand thrown harpoons used in the 19th century.
This harpoon is of that improved design. Its overall length is 30 ¼ inches.
The toggle head is 9 ¼” long and has a slim profile similar to that made by
Azorean black smiths. It also has adistinctive recurved “barb” on its top,
and a tail end with quite attractive chamfers.
The underside of the end of the head shows distinctive marks of forge welding.
The holes for the wooden keeper pin line up nicely between the shank and the
back section of the toggle. The left side of the toggle is stamped, “U
. A . B”. The "B"is formed from two circular stamps
of different diameters. Other harpoons are known with this mark and are
attributed to the "United Azorean Whalers" (Unido Acoriano Baleeiros).. The shaft of this harpoon is made of malleable steel, and is about 7/16
inches in diameter. The socket is 6 inches long, and is tightly served with
tarred marline or hemp. Boatsteerers often served the harpoon sockets in this way to
protect the knot of the whale line from fraying against the steel of the
socket. This harpoon has an exceedingly nice "look" and is well crafted. This is a nice collectible harpoon. Fine.
Price - $750.00
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