European saber blade - request for ID

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hello, I am shifting this tread from the "Ethno Chapter", since - maybe it belongs here:
Enclosed please find photos of relatively ordinary saber found in Ethiopia.
Please, does anybody know anything about NH + Son (fils) supplier ?
Where does the blade come from ?
The age ? - I think it could be end of 18th century (?).
Could you appoint coat-of-arms: one-head eagle with the cross in the shield ? And also there is engraved cross set in the crown, on the blade.
I cannot read properly the inscriptions. They could be significant for the allocation - "Blahmann ???, Solong...or Solingen ???
All parts of the sabre were used a lot, it visible both on the handle and the blade.

Thanks for help.
Martin

[Martin Lubojacky]

Three additional pictures

[corrado26]

This is the coat of arms of the kingdom of Sardinia-Piemont until 1861. The blade has certainly been made at Solingen.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Thank you Corrado26.
What do you think about the approximate age of the blade ? Half of 19th century ?

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Thank you Corrado26.
What do you think about the approximate age of the blade ? Half of 19th century ?

I'd suspect 1st half, if not a tad earlier. Nappy threw a spanner in the works of Europe and especially Italy from the very late 18th till about 1815 when they got Piedmont back & started taking over the rest of Italy, becoming the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, thus the earlier name became obsolete. Blade was probably surplus by then & sold or given to the Ethiopians.

[M ELEY]

The knuckle bow is 'reverse P' pattern, so post 1800. Judging from the pattern comparison to others of the type, perhaps 1830's-50's?? Very nice piece!

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

The knuckle bow is 'reverse P' pattern, so post 1800. Judging from the pattern comparison to others of the type, perhaps 1830's-50's?? Very nice piece!

The grip of course may be newer than the blade....I'd go with post 1815, pre 1850 tho.

[M ELEY]

Good point, Wayne. Indeed, the blade could definitely be older. I had jumped into the thread without realizing we were specifically discussing the origins of the blade. Sorry! In any case, it is always fascinating to me to see pieces where reuse of older materials are included (Spanish colonial, Rev War pieces, Am Confederate pieces, maritime, etc). Some collectors shy away from so called ersatz pieces and its a shame. The good news for collectors that appreciate the multiple histories involved is that they can swoop in and acquire such items sometimes on the cheap.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Thank you all for information !

Best,
Martin