Schiavona Sword

[Cerjak]

Hi everybody

I have recently bought this Shiavona sword who should be according Oakeshott
"European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution" a type 2a hilt I would like to know how we could estimate the period could it be from the early 17 TH century and also if somebody could tell me more about this "s" mark on the blade.
The total size is around 127 cm.
Any comment on it will be welcome.

[Cerjak]

more pictures

[fernando]

Great sword, Jean-Luc.
... and quite a long one, with its 127 cms.
XVII century would be the right age for the hilt. Others with more knowledge may comment on the blade

[Cerjak]

Hi Fernando

I did a mistake in the size the correct size is 121 cm

Regards

Cerjak

[Cerjak]

still hoping that somebody could tell me more about this "s" mark on the blade

[fernando]

still hoping that somebody could tell me more about this "s" mark on the blade
I wouldn't be surprised if you never get results on a small mark like that. Probably the blade smith punction, who knows.
You don't ignore that many (most) old swords were rehilted or 'rebladed' in their life.
But i have good news about this hilt. I went back to the work i have on Schiavonas and, precisely in the page where the author pretends that the pommel figure in these swords is a lion and not a cat, one of the examples shown is precisely like this one of yours. This is a reason to be glad for you, as very rarely we find out there a specimen similar or even equal to the one we have. Also this confirms the originality of the examples; so in principle your pommel is not a fake, which so often happens

.

[Cerjak]

Hi Fernando

Thank you for have post this scan from this book ,In the same time I have found a similar Shiavona with the same pommel so this kind of pommel was popular and also this sword had the same type of Hilt .
Interesting detail this sword is with his scabbard.

Best Regards

Jean-Luc

[Iain]

If I'm not mistaken the first word in this thread actually has two marks. In the close up showing the S there is also, hidden in the second fuller a "fly mark" visible just above.

Both seem to have been pretty popular on schiavona, I'm not sure there's a whole lot more to add other than the fact they they are typical markings and what I would expect to see on a blade of this type in these mounts. :) Great sword by the way!