I purchased an old battle axe or Halberd recently - it has X71-287 inked on it - is this a museum catalog #?

Question

The dimensions of the halberd are 9" high, 2" wide - the handle/staff is 6 feet - if this marking of X71-287 is a catalog number from a museum, I would like to make contact and see about returning this relic - the metal looks very old, possibly several hundred years - it was forged with rough looking iron - I can submit a picture to help out with identification -
Thank you

Answer 1

You have a Halberd or a Bill Hook. A Bill Hook is the famous pruning hook from the bible. It was used by peasant armies to cut and drag mounted soldiers off their horses in combat. Actually the Halberd replaced the Bill Hook A The Halberd had a Spear point at the top and a spike Counter weight behind a large sweeping Axehead. Used by Men at Arms to ruin a knight's day.

Did you get a provenance with it? In case you don't know that it a history of the item including sales. Do the numbers look stamped on or hand written? Stamped you probably have a copy but it is numbered that means special run. If hand written it is probably from a collection that is old and the numbers do identify it as part of that collection those numbers would be the catalog numbers.

If you still think that you might have stolen property take pictures of it and go to the police and tell them your story they will probably have a list of stolen goods with that number identifying it. By doing this you will get any reward that has been posted for it and if the police get it later you are not charge as an accessory.

If that doesn't work take it to an appraiser and let him or her tell you what it is. It's a lot of work but if it is stolen then you are doing the wright thing.