I have always said, the depth of text and footnotes in everything written by Robert Elgood is a virtual arms and armour goldmine!
From his 1994, "Arms and Armour of Arabia":
p.25:
"...P.Knecht (of Solingen) appears to be one of the first European makers to experiment in the production of watered steel blades. A German presentation sabre with finely watered, curved single edged blade with clipped back point and yelman".
this was apparently offered in Christies auction Wed, 15 Apr. 1992, lot #194
On the blade is inscribed "
Waffenfabrick von Pr. W.Knecht Sohn in Solingen/Pers Kahora Weich
According to Claude Blair, the term 'weich' means refined.
The blade is dated 1823.
Two other similar type swords without inscriptions , #195 and #196 appear from the same workshop.
#195: no yelman but on forte on each side of blade a star and crescent gilt.
#196: has three stars and crescent on one blade face; on the other
pseudo-Arabic inscriptions and scroll work.
Elgood notes both are early 19th century and in form resemble the Turkish kilij.
It is unclear whether he means the pistol type grip or blade in that comment.
* He also notes that the endymion on the scabbards suggested to him this might align these with the Greek-Ottoman war of that time.
Regarding other perspective on the watered steel blades in European context,
p.25....the blade manufacturer Giacomo Lando from St. Bartolomeo near Brescia in Italy was rewarded by the Viceroy in 1810 for having successfully making Damascus sword blades. Elgood notes further in footnotes that it would be extremely interesting to prove the export of Damascus blades to the Levant in the 19th c. and that though the evidence is lacking it doeseem likely.
*This seems contradictory to the previous reference to Knecht.
Also on p.25, an 'imitation' Damascus blade made by Crivelli in Italy was among captured weapons taken at Seringapatam in 1799, setting us to wonder what Tipu was doing with it.
It would seem the first entries here pertaining to Knecht reveal that he may indeed have been responsible for this blade, and as previously noted, this pipeback feature was in use in Germany (also found on British blades) of the time.
The name Knecht is of course well known primarily for the Solingen family who traded in swords rather than manufacture them c.1770, Johann Peter Knecht who signed P.Knecht (Wallace Coll. Mann, 1962, A520; A641) and the blades with the familiar 'Spanish Motto'.
His son Peter Knecht, was born in 1796, and apparently the innovative smith we are concerned with.
I think this well supports the astute observations of Ariel and Oliver.
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