Could the eyelash mark originate from Vienna ?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Further examples; Showing dots on blades, hilts and scabbards along with and without eyelash marks with and without famous name strikes. Since astrology was fairly strong it follows that the dots could be stars, planets, suns and thus interchangeable (as seen above ) with crosses. Below are a number of swords including Khanda, Tulvar, Shiavona, Takouba, Turkish Kilij, Flysa and even Kukhri...

The Chechens regarded the sickle mark blades as superior and https://books.google.com.om/books?id...blades&f=false describes that they nicknamed them as bitemarks... The Armenians largely cornered the Indian market for imported European blades so it can be seen that they were the main transmission of this type of decorated blade originating in Genoa to India.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Here is the blade of an Algerian Nimcha...with the bite marks (hogs back eyelash marks) from what is generally agreed as Genoan origin. (Penciled in the margin; "It may be said that the Algerian and Moroccan Nimcha were very similar and though I have seen elaborate hilts on Algerian including clossonne/enamel and in this case tortoise shell the two forms are virtually identical.)

Please see Swords in the Deccan in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries: Their Manufacture and the Influence of European Imports
Robert Elgood; for an excellent view of how Genoan weapons found their way via Germany to India with "Armenian market savvy dealers" and thus the famous blademark entered India.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I note from atkinson-swords at http://atkinson-swords.com/marks-and...rif-stamp.html a well placed sentence Quote'' Sword blade "blanks" may originate in many countries and were desirable trade goods. Marks added to such blades do not necessarily indicate the forge, armory or original sword-smith. Rather, they may be added locally as markers of quality or "power" of the blade. For example, the "eyelash" or "sickle" marks of Genoa and elsewhere are well known and often imitated, that is, added to blades originating in Germany or the Caucasus. The Mazir-i-Sharif stamp was added to edged weapons and coins in Kabul, Afghanistan.'' Unquote.

[Jens Nordlunde]

I am by no way a specialist, but my guess is, that the very deep marks were made while the steel was very warm, and the not so deep marks were made when the steel was cold.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

I am by no way a specialist, but my guess is, that the very deep marks were made while the steel was very warm, and the not so deep marks were made when the steel was cold.

I ask a similar question at #28 . We simply do not know if the strike was made at the anvil when the blade was hot or ... Were the marks done on a cold blade in a different country? It is known that many blades were suited up later with blade marks but we don't know if they were done on the forge hot or cold.

[DavidFriedman]

Greetings all,
This blade has what appears to be remnants of eyelash marks. The triple dots that are found at the terminations of the crescents remain. Both sides feature the same markings. Also there is a micro remnant of an eyelash crescent on one side of the blade. Not sure if it shows in these photos.

The blade is of exceptional quality. Light, flexible and narrow. Hilted on a tiger hilt. Not sure the coating on the hilt (any insight would be great there too).

So in your opinions, does this appear to be an Italian import blade? Or possibly an Indian made variant. Blade has a long indentation along the base of the spine for the first 7 or 8 inches from the guard.

Thanks.

[Jim McDougall]

An interesting saber, and with this tiger form hilt of course suggesting the regalia of the celebrated ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, who was killed by British forces at Seringapatam in 1799.
In observing this sword from photos, it is of course hard to say with certainty that it is of the period, especially as such weapons were produced in a commemorative sense for some time after this.

However, the blade on this example may be Styrian, a region in Austria which closely followed many Italian blade producing conventions, which included the use of the famed 'sickle marks' (eyelashes) . These markings were typically deemed "Genoan' but in actuality were used in numerous North Italian blade making centers, with Genoa the part of departure for these exports.

Styrian blade making centers produced blades for various East European countries including Hungary. The rest of Europe, notably France, became enamored of the colorful hussar cavalry units and the influences of their uniforms and weapons as well as numbers of Hungarian officers and troops joined their ranks in the latter 18th c.

The French were situated in India to the east in the coastal region of Pondicherry in the mid 18th century and later, allied with some of the Indian states in the antagonizing of the British interests there.

Tipu Sultan had of course notable disdain for the British, and often had French advisors and supplied materials so 'by the numbers' it is possible that a Styrian blade, via French presence, might have come into Mysori hands and been used in this type of Mysori saber.

The sickle marks seem in the proper configuration, and the three dots punched deeply while the arcs normally present are indiscernible in these images.

I am not aware of Indian blades using these multiple fullers in this manner and the blade, though recalling certain Italian storta style forms, seems more probably Styrian IMO.

Hope this helps, despite clearly speculation and the tenuous possible solution.

[kronckew]

they persist into modern times as well, in my georgian khevsurli sword...

gratuitous marking on another probably older khukuri included for comparison.