Antique Greener Gun Toggle Iron Harpoon, circa 1860s

Antique Greener Gun Toggle Iron Harpoon, circa 1860s, having an 8-1/2 inch long toggle head with acute barbed cutting edge and up-swept rear barb, pivoting on flatted boss, on a 1-3/16 inch diameter double shank ending in a solid cylindrical butt. The harpoon is in excellent condition with a still somewhat sharp cutting edge, light brown patina with much of the shiny steel surface still visible, and traces of the original red-range protective paint.

Measures: 2-5/8 in High x 47-1/2 in Long

These very large harpoons were fired from Greener swivel guns mounted in the bows of a whale boat. They were especially popular in the British whaling fleet, and most commonly had swivel heads with two or even four barbs. This one with a “common toggle head” was relatively popular among New England whalers, and was especially particularly popular in the California whale fishery.