Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
Old 17th October 2023, 06:24 PM   #24
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,295
Default

Thanks David, like to see pics of that spine.
I found a plate of blade cross sections of Polish and in degree Hungarian swords in "Cecia Prazdziwa Szabla" , Wojciech Zablocki, Warsaw, 1989, p.62,
which shows several blade sections with 'indented spine', probably 18th into early 19th c.

Polish swords (and Hungarian) had blades made in Lvov (once Poland-Lithuania, then Austria now western Ukraine) typically Armenian makers; Graz and several other cities in Styria (SE Austria).
Lvov had prevalent trade contact with Venice, and all of these were in the complex geopolitical network of the Austro-Hungarian (Holy Roman Empire).

The well known 'sickle' marks traveled through all these networks becoming a symbolic device subtly denoting quality and were widely copied and used in various configurations and applications.
The markings became notably used in Styrian blades, and it is believed that through Genoan trade networks in the Black Sea they entered the Caucasian sphere, becoming known as 'gurda' (=good blade).

Wayne, outstanding paluoar!!! and to see these 'sickles' placed multiply as well as 'strategically' as often seen on Indian blades where the three dots (trimurti) are often placed at key locations on blades.

Pics attached of a Khevsur 'pranguli' (Caucasian Georgia late 19th c) with blade believed of Ataghi aul (Chechnya) using the 'gurda' in linear motif, reflectjng the potential talismanic imbuement of multiples. I have seen similar linear application of these 'sickles' on some Indian swords.
Attached Images
   

Last edited by Jim McDougall; 17th October 2023 at 06:41 PM.
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.