Takouba with a forte.

[Ian]

Marc, the longitudinal fuller runs under the "forte." This suggests to me that part of the repair consisted of a carefully fitted sleeve over the original forte and adjacent blade, then riveted in place. I suspect if you were to remove the existing guard (not suggesting you do) and examine the upper end of this "forte"/sleeve, it may also be similarly riveted to the blade underneath. Under the present "forte" there could be a scarf weld to the original blade, made more stable by the sleeve bridging the two sections.


If you wiggle the blade, is there any play in it in the area of the "forte?" An underlying weld done well should result in no play there.


Nice looking sword and scabbard.

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by Ian

Marc, the longitudinal fuller runs under the "forte." This suggests to me that part of the repair consisted of a carefully fitted sleeve over the original forte and adjacent blade, then riveted in place. I suspect if you were to remove the existing guard (not suggesting you do) and examine the upper end of this "forte"/sleeve, it may also be similarly riveted to the blade underneath. Under the present "forte" there could be a scarf weld to the original blade, made more stable by the sleeve bridging the two sections.


If you wiggle the blade, is there any play in it in the area of the "forte?" An underlying weld done well should result in no play there.


Nice looking sword and scabbard.

Hi Ian
Thanks for your response, since we don't know where the damage to the sword is under the forte, there are several ways to repair the damage. Yours is very possible, but as you said removing the hilt is not an option. The only way to find out is to take an x-ray shot. Will try if that is possible. Any idea what the age of the blade is and the wear on the brass rings? The blade is rock solid on the forte.
Regards
Marc

[Lee]

It will not surprise me if you discover no break hidden under the reinforcing plates. I have seen such plates on many takouba; the forte is the strongest part of a blade, so breaks there should not be anticipated. Perhaps the intent was as a stiffener, or to change the balance or to lengthen a blade by adding an extension. In any case it is a very nice sword. The mounts are probably mid 20th century and the blade earlier.

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by Lee

It will not surprise me if you discover no break hidden under the reinforcing plates. I have seen such plates on many takouba; the forte is the strongest part of a blade, so breaks there should not be anticipated. Perhaps the intent was as a stiffener, or to change the balance or to lengthen a blade by adding an extension. In any case it is a very nice sword. The mounts are probably mid 20th century and the blade earlier.

Hi Lee
Thanks for the additional info regarding forte. I assumed a high quality blade was made usable again this way after a break. The attached photo shows a piece of the blade, 23.5mm, in the forte, otherwise no seams can be seen on the forte.
The blade at the forte is 27.4mm wide and 4.8mm thick, the forte 27.9 and 6mm thick, and at its widest 28mmen 5.2 thick.
Regards
Marc

[Marc M.]

Originally Posted by Marc M.

Hi Lee
Thanks for the additional info regarding forte. I assumed a high quality blade was made usable again this way after a break. The attached photo shows a piece of the blade, 23.5mm, in the forte, otherwise no seams can be seen on the forte.
The blade at the forte is 27.4mm wide and 4.8mm thick, the forte 27.9 and 6mm thick, and at its widest 28mmen 5.2 thick.
Regards
Marc

Photo.

[Tim Simmons]

Perhaps another hand hold for what ever reason?. Nice and clean example.

[TVV]

There are indeed a lot of takouba with “sandwich” reinforcements at the forte and I doubt repairs are the main reason. I suspect it was used in cases where the tang may have been too short for it to be peened to the pommel or in some cases even decorative.