Museum Quality Whaling Harpoon TEMPLE Toggle Iron

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Museum Quality Whaling Harpoon TEMPLE Toggle Iron

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Sold Date: 11/08/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fine Art

I hand make museum quality harpoons. These are real harpoons , new, but made to look old. My replicas are typical representations of the "irons" found in the Catalogue of The Whaling Museum, Old Dartmouth Historical Society in New Bedford, MA. The iron is a an early Temple type ( The iron was invented in 1848 by Lewis Temple, a New Bedford blacksmith.) These early Temples were hand done then and took much time and effort. They still do! The iron measures 38 1/2 inches from the tip to the end of the split socket.

The "iron" (whalers parlance for the metal part of the harpoon) is chemically aged to a fire black patina as it would look in the "period" condition on the whaleboat. Genuine Stockholm tarred hemp marline is used to serve the split socket and is secured with a sailors turkshead knot. The initials of the maker (S&P) is hand stamped in the irons head, as was the custom.

The pole is dense Alaskan Spruce and is over 100 years old. This pole is naturally distressed, hand hewn with a drawknife, and preserved with boiled linseed oil. The whale line is genuine Hemp and is stopped to the pole using Stockholm tarred marline which has the pleasant odor of the old ships. Thus overall the harpoon is 8 foot 5 inches long when mounted, but can be displayed in an area of a little over 5 feet.

This whalecraft makes an excellent display of the American Whaling era. It is suitable for home, office, museum, and anyw a nautical theme is desired.

The pictures are of this harpoon. These harpoons have sold in excess upwards of $700.00 and are the best found anyw Lots of labor and genuine materials ensure a great product. Comments and questions appreciated! Thank you, Harpoonguy. Display hangers not included. See them in another listing. Thanks