Falchion with the Passau wolf.

[Jim McDougall]

LOL! good one Dmitri on the prescription !. sure could use a memory pill, because as always, these markings seem familiar...maybe I've looked at so many through the years its all a blur. Which Boccia book do you have...I looked into Boccia & Coelho "Armi Bianchi Italiene" but could not find this sword type. The sword blade profiles and unusual designs on polearms do seem to reflect various types of appendages and such features though.
On p.422 there were lettered markings M : C + 1781 in what seemed period inscription on a schiavona, which seemed to have a T O L E D O marking and comments that were in Italian but suggested Brescia. This was of course a Spanish province in those times and earlier, and the Toledo addition was sometimes seen on Italian blades.

Obviously the schiavona has nothing to do with this, but what I thought was interesting was the lettering which seemed similar, and the Spanish associations which are mentioned simply as a consideration since the Spanish colonial suggestion is present.

The curious image with the small lines that seem hairlike and cannot see how extensively present they might have been. There are only the strange scorpion type figures seen on a number of the Italian blades that seem to ring bells with odd shapes and hairlike accents.

Rick, good suggestion on the Sumatran/Indonesian potential, and it seems that some of the klewangs etc. had blade root features of some similarity but cannot recall for sure. What does strike me as compelling are some of the downward quillon shapes on some Philippines edged weapons, which may be a link toward Spanish influence (attached). Note the ferrule as well. The knuckleguard countinuing over the pommel and peened is similar to espada anchas, though this one seems to be separated.

[Dmitry]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

...I looked into Boccia & Coelho "Armi Bianchi Italiene" but could not find this sword type. The sword blade profiles and unusual designs on polearms do seem to reflect various types of appendages and such features though.

Exactly. In the back of the book, look at the Table B, weapon 3. He calls it a falchion.
The spike on last hilt you showed does pose some questions in regards to the similarities between the two swords!

I've looked at the blade again, it does show some striations that could possible be signs of folded steel, OR just signs of cleanings throughout the years.
Some more pics.

[Dmitry]

I think I've figured out the inscription and the mark!

[M ELEY]

Well, Dmitry, don't just keep us in suspense!!

[Dmitry]

Well, if you insist. It is a Dutch cryptic phrase, and a university-trained linguist came up with this transcription -
Hallo, mijn naam is Shaver Cool, en dit is wat ik eruit nadat ik uit de douche.

Looks like my fancy European falchion theory is bunk.
Truth be told, after perusing this site, looks like it might be a Parang Nabur, akin to the pieces displayed in this thread -
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=parang+nabur

The similarities in the guard construction and the blade form are strong.
IMHO, the inscription might be an attempt to imitate the European talismanic inscriptions, as is the amoeba-like creature. Who made it, when, and for who, I have no idea.


I think it's time to enlist the experts from the Ethnographic Weapons section.

I am especially thankful to RSWORD for pointing me to the direction of the Dutch East Indies.

[kai]

This is certainly not a Beladah Belabang, the correct name for the Negara sword misidentified by Stone as a "Parang Nabur" (the name being based on the Niabor of the Iban). I don't see any similarities to Bornean swords (nor Malay/Indonesian in general either).

There are semblances to what has been referred to as bathead(-pommel) Batangas sword/bolo and which likely comes from the southern Luzon region (Bizol currently being the top contender but AFAIK no sure provenance has been established for any of the 19th century pieces yet).

The piece discussed in this thread has a blade shape which seems to differ from the typical bathead-pommel swords (less curved blade, narrower tip, prominent protrusion at the base) and I'd be weary to positively identify it as such (given that there's also not the typical hilt style). 20th century blades from Bizol as shown by Zel seem to come in a variety of shapes and hilt types and a later date would also make the combination with a rather generic D-guard hilt (possibly Filipino with European influences) more likely.

Regards,
Kai

[Rick]

I would interpret the 'Passau Wolf' mark more as a representation of a stinging insect .

I see legs on both sides of this mark .