Artifactually_Weapons They conjure up images of past glories, prestige, pomp and also of war and suffering. The Cobourg Museum has been gifted a number of interesting weapons. Some have a past that we know of and others have required some investigation. Here are their stories: WEAPONS Weapons create mixed emotions A machete is a crude slashing weapon and often made by hand. Its chief function however is for clearing brush in jungles or in the back woods of Ontario. Machetes were the chief harvesting tools of sugar plantations. Militia Training by C W Jefferys wooden musket Wooden "pretend" weapons have been used for centuries as play toys or as training tools. As in this picture, boys of Upper Canada may have gotten their first training on wooden replica muskets. When World War 1 broke out in September 1914, Canada had only 16,796 rifles fit for use. Thousands of recruits were signing up, thus many new soldiers received basic training with obsolete or wooden replicas until sufficient Ross rifles were manufactured. This one was made and donated to the Museum by Don Locke of Novar, Ontario. Don's daughter, Jennifer Thornhill, was one of the earliest volunteers when the Heritage Centre first opened. Machete ! ARTIFACTUALLYSPEAKING