I found this spear head in a thrift store while backpacking through California, oddly enough, while i was on my way to Asia. It was found in a town heavy with Marines, so it could have been brought in from who knows where and sold for nothing to the shop at which I purchased it.
It has 3 worn prongs atop a deity, who looks like it could be of Hindu origin. It is well attached to an antler.
Can anyone help me identify it's origin, or point me in the direction of people, or someone who can?

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It looks a lot like a toasting fork: http://www.ukbrasses.com/forks1.htm

haha... it really does, but i really doubt thats what it is.

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm fairly sure it isn't a spear... It will be interesting to follow this thread, in either case. You have made me curious.

Definitely not a weapon. If this was used violently the narrow neck behind the tines will bend or snap.

Its a nice example of (as Jonathan says) a toasting fork. It's indian and I'd guess dates to the second quarter 20thC. Possibly a little earlier.

The very first thing that pops into my head is that it one of the horns from a Madu.

http://www.trocadero.com/101antiques/items/1006425/en1store.html
http://www.trocadero.com/101antiques/items/1006425/en4store.html

Awesome that you guys could tell me so much about it. I would definitely agree after closer inspection of other madu horns that that is what this is, and find it so funny that it really is a toasting fork. Thank you guys for the information. I will post pictures and info on a couple other weapons I have found along my travels that I think you may find interesting.

Are you sure they are weapons? ;)

haha... they might be toasting knives.

Sharp eyes Mackenzie! Believe you are correct. Had a couple in my collection a few years back; one had a span of about 48" the other was much smaller. Both had spear type heads fixed to the same type of horn...no toasting forks. Marshmallows anyone?

Cheers,
Dan

So is it for bread. A kind of nan?

I think it's pretty cool. :)

Yes, definitely the same horns as on my madu:

[ Linked Image ]

(pardon the really old small picture - taken back when bandwidth was limited and dear!)

Ebay from April, grab the pictures if you want them Google cache item 380330521982

SUPERB INDIAN COLONIAL SILVER HORN HANDLE TOASTING FORK


Here is a Fabulous and Extremely Rare Indian Colonial Silver Toasting Fork over 18 Inches (46 cms) Long with a Twisted “Black Buck” Asian Antelope Horn Handle
The Toasting Fork has Four Sharp Tines and a Ring Loop Finial
Rarest Early 1800s Indian Colonial Solid Sterling Silver – This is the Actual Fork Illustrated on Page 151 of “Indian Colonial Silver” by Wynard Wilkinson



Here is a top quality large Indian Colonial Silver Toasting Fork over 18 inches long (46 cms) made by Twentyman & Company of Calcutta circa 1824 - 1829.



The natural horn handle is a trophy from an Asian Black Buck, or Indian antelope.
The twisting ringed horn forms a superbly effective handle providing naturally fitted grips for the hand and fingers.



The Toasting Fork has four large tines and a ring finial for hanging near the fireplace.



See the photographs above.
This actual Toasting Fork and these maker’s marks for Twentyman & Company of Calcutta are illustrated in the two reference works that are the “bibles” on Indian Colonial Silver.
Wynard R.T. Wilkinson’s Indian Colonial Silver, European Silversmiths in India (1790-1860) and their Marks published in 1973, and The Makers of Indian Colonial Silver of 1987.
Copies of the relevant pages from these works will be included with this rare Toasting Fork.

This large Toasting Fork is overall in excellent condition with only minor defects to the natural horn handle consistent with its age and usage – see photographs.

AN EXTREMELY RARE INDIAN COLONIAL SILVER TOASTING FORK BY TWENTYMAN & COMPANY WITH AN INTERESTING ANTELOPE HANDLE
FULLY DOCUMENTED IN THE REFERENCE WORKS, AND A CROWNING ADDITION TO ANY COLLECTION

SEE THE PICTURE AND DETAILS BELOW



This rare Toasting Fork is eighteen inches long (18 ins / 46 cms). The fork head is one and three quarter inches wide (1.75 ins / 4.5 cms) and three and a half inches long (3.5 ins / 8.5 cms).
The Toasting Fork is in overall very good condition with only a few minor defects to the antelope horn handle.



The back of the fork head is marked with a long rectangle tally mark, a lion passant, and the maker’s mark “T&Co” for Twentyman and Company, this mark used in Calcutta circa 1824-1829, as illustrated and confirmed above.

first hit on Google for a horn handled toasting fork. ;) Many pictures

cheers

GC

Lots of classy silver ones, here is a brass one as shown above and selling in the UK

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