African Sword with European Mark

CharlesS · 26th October 2013, 05:40 PM

Just noticing the baldric rings are on the edge side of the scabbard meaning that more then likely the sword hung edge side up under the wearer's shoulder...that might even explain why there are no superfluous ornamental tassals, etc. attached. This sword is all business!

archer · 26th October 2013, 07:47 PM

Jimmy, This makers mark appears on a koummiya They appear to be just initials with a period after each letter. The blade has remnants of silver plating. It's mounted in silver. I tried but, no luck as I recall finding out about the maker. Iains, suggestion may be correct. Regards, Steve

Oh, the sheath on this one has a Roman date 911 for 1911 made up of segments of coins, if I understand their system correctly. the second date looks to be 900 on another Koummiya. Please advise if I'm wrong and this this actually Arabic writing. Thanks, Steve

Iain · 27th October 2013, 01:09 PM

Great corroborating example Steve!

I was more less taking a guess on Spitzer part, but seeing that your blade as the G.S. initials it becomes much clearer.

This would place it as a Solingen trade blade, which is about what you'd expect given the mounts and circumstances.

I've often wondered if some of these later Solingen blades started out as military pattern imports to equip local colonial forces?

manteris1 · 29th October 2013, 06:06 PM

What about the Unicorn Mark................jimmy

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 29th October 2013, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manteris1

What about the Unicorn Mark................jimmy

Salaams manteris.. I didn't see the unicorn though I studied it for ages from different angles thinking it was some strange alphabet... soon as you said Unicorn my brain must have triggered (left brain right brain) and now it's clear.

Thank you. Was the Unicorn the mark of GS swords?
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Iain · 29th October 2013, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams manteris.. I didn't see the unicorn though I studied it for ages from different angles thinking it was some strange alphabet... soon as you said Unicorn my brain must have triggered (left brain right brain) and now it's clear.

Thank you. Was the Unicorn the mark of GS swords?
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Yes... The examples shown in this thread are unicorn marks... I would have noted this but I thought it was clear.

It's a variation on an older mark with the full bodied animal.

thinreadline · 30th October 2013, 08:30 AM

G.S. written in this style is also the mark of British bayonet maker George Salter & Co . They were based in Birmingham.

26th October 2013, 05:40 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Just noticing the baldric rings are on the edge side of the scabbard meaning that more then likely the sword hung edge side up under the wearer's shoulder...that might even explain why there are no superfluous ornamental tassals, etc. attached. This sword is all business! Last edited by CharlesS; 26th October 2013 at 09:05 PM.

26th October 2013, 07:47 PM	#2
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Unicorn Marks on koummiya Jimmy, This makers mark appears on a koummiya They appear to be just initials with a period after each letter. The blade has remnants of silver plating. It's mounted in silver. I tried but, no luck as I recall finding out about the maker. Iains, suggestion may be correct. Regards, Steve Oh, the sheath on this one has a Roman date 911 for 1911 made up of segments of coins, if I understand their system correctly. the second date looks to be 900 on another Koummiya. Please advise if I'm wrong and this this actually Arabic writing. Thanks, Steve Attached Images Last edited by archer; 27th October 2013 at 12:57 AM. Reason: more info

27th October 2013, 01:09 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,717	Great corroborating example Steve! I was more less taking a guess on Spitzer part, but seeing that your blade as the G.S. initials it becomes much clearer. This would place it as a Solingen trade blade, which is about what you'd expect given the mounts and circumstances. I've often wondered if some of these later Solingen blades started out as military pattern imports to equip local colonial forces?

29th October 2013, 06:06 PM	#4
manteris1 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 114	What about the Unicorn Mark................jimmy

30th October 2013, 08:30 AM	#7
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	G.S. written in this style is also the mark of British bayonet maker George Salter & Co . They were based in Birmingham.