[RobT]

Hi All,

I remember seeing blade stamps like these (see photos 2 & 3) but I can’t remember if I saw them on khodmi or takouba. As shown, my blade is stamped on both sides but the stamp location is staggered with the stamps on one side being closer to the guard than on the other. Can anyone tell me which weapon these type of stamps appear on (or are they found on both)?
When I first saw this sword, I wasn’t going to buy it because I thought that some ignorant sod had drilled display hanging holes in the blade but then I asked myself, “why three holes?”. If the sword were to be hung vertically, one hole would be enough and two would be enough for horizontal display. I concluded that the holes were probably drilled either by the maker or the owner. My second question is whether or not the holes were likely to have been filled with copper or brass.
The blade on my sword measures about 29.25” (74.295cm). Although the fuller is offset, the blade is double edged. The leather on the cross guard has a stamped border. There is a short half cylinder of leather with an incised design, on the hilt just behind the guard. The large oval pommel is iron and measures 2.5 x 3 inches (6.35 x 7.62 cm). The base of the pyramid atop the pommel is also iron and has an incised design. The remaining four parts of the pyramid are made of alternating layers of incised brass and copper. The tang is peened over a brass button capping the pyramid. The ornate pommel clearly shows that this blade was meant to be a cut above average (pun shamelessly intended).
There is a pierced and incised brass (four corners of the desert” design just below the sheath throat. Unfortunately, most of the sheath suspension is missing. Most unfortunately, the chape is missing also.

Sincerely,
RobT