Markings on a Takouba-mounted European Backsword

[blue lander]

I should mention the upper half of this sword is double edged. This might be an alteration made in Africa but it seems to me it was made this way.

Another unusual feature is the fuller at the bottom of the ricosso. I don't recall seeing any other backswords with a fuller there.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by blue lander

I should mention the upper half of this sword is double edged. This might be an alteration made in Africa but it seems to me it was made this way.

Another unusual feature is the fuller at the bottom of the ricosso. I don't recall seeing any other backswords with a fuller there.

I would be pretty confident the second edge was done locally. I've seen this on other backsword blades in takouba mounts.

[blue lander]

Originally Posted by Iain

I would be pretty confident the second edge was done locally. I've seen this on other backsword blades in takouba mounts.

In your experience, with other converted backswords are they reshaped all the way down to the ricasso or have you seen others that are double edge for just the top half of the blade?

The reason I'm curious is that the double edge part of the blade has a nice symmetrical oval cross section. If it was a conversion I'd expect the shape to still look like a backsword someone filed the spine off of rather than a properly shaped double edged sword.

Also, I've seen a couple schiavona backswords that are double sided for the upper 1/4th of the blade. I haven't seen one 1/2 double sided, though.

For instance,

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...78&postcount=9

[Iain]

Originally Posted by blue lander

In your experience, with other converted backswords are they reshaped all the way down to the ricasso or have you seen others that are double edge for just the top half of the blade?

The reason I'm curious is that the double edge part of the blade has a nice symmetrical oval cross section. If it was a conversion I'd expect the shape to still look like a backsword someone filed the spine off of rather than a properly shaped double edged sword.

Also, I've seen a couple schiavona backswords that are double sided for the upper 1/4th of the blade. I haven't seen one 1/2 double sided, though.

For instance,

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...78&postcount=9

There's always a chance of a European blade having been made this way. The one's I've handled typically have the last 1/2 to 1/3 sharpened on the upper side.