SCHIAVONA FOR COMMENTS

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Fernando for acknowledging my post and the kind words. That means a lot to the old researcher here It was most rewarding to gather these notes, and even better to have had the great input from Jasper and Michael, which I have added to them.

I thought the blade seemed to widen toward the tip, but wasn't really paying enough attention as I was focused on the hilt. It seems to me that this type feature is like the 'yelman' on sabres which adds momentum to the slashing cut in additional weight at the end. On the Polish sabres with this feature I was once told that the widening was called by a Polish term which meant 'feather' in a wry way of referring to added weight.

I am very curious as well on the Portuguese attribution, and like you I knew of these Balkan troops fighting against Ottomans in Spain, but had not heard of these distinct basket hilt swords reaching Portugal.

All the best,
Jim