Sword marking for ID

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by Helleri

These marks seem to be serif and somewhat random or unpredictable in their form. I wonder if this was meant to act in a similar fashion the cattle brand marks which were designed to ward against being modified. In the case of cattle branding it was an anti theft thing. In the case of blade making perhaps it's an anti counterfeit thing? Or perhaps they are compound alchemical symbols to denote alloy?

Interesting subject. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_mark and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant%27s_mark.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Victrix

Interesting subject. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_mark.

Interesting to note "similarity" in systems between House marks in the link above and that applied by fishermen in my hometown; either knife carved in tools and property ... and at chapel doors they visit in their pilgrimages. A writing costume fading away though, with the advent of their alphabetization.


,

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by fernando

Interesting to note "similarity" in systems between House marks in the link above and that applied by fishermen in my hometown; either knife carved in tools and property ... and at chapel doors they visit in their pilgrimages. A writing costume fading away though, with the advent of their alphabetization.


,

Yes, this is interesting. I thought these house marks had Germanic origins but perhaps their use was fairly universal. Could this have Visigothic origins in Portugal? I guess the common denominator is that these symbols were used by illiterate people to identify themselves in the vernacular with the use of symbols. Not sure if the symbol in the first post looks particularly Germanic.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Victrix

Yes, this is interesting. I thought these house marks had Germanic origins but perhaps their use was fairly universal. Could this have Visigothic origins in Portugal? I guess the common denominator is that these symbols were used by illiterate people to identify themselves in the vernacular with the use of symbols. Not sure if the symbol in the first post looks particularly Germanic.

I would not venture that the symbol in Evgeny's sword has a connection with House maks; was only following your stream. Yes, the so called "siglas" are defined as a primitive proto writing, used by then illiterate locals, specially among the fishing comunity; even figuring in ledger books, in which the creditor had the debtor to recognize his account by checking his (name) mark, followed by the money values represented with rounds and strokes.
Whether brought by the Visigods or the Vikings, a current conviction, is hard to say; we have had countless races passing or staying over here.