Swiss saber with inscription "ANNA" (?)

urbanspaceman · 7th January 2025, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulfberth

Hi Robin,
the word ANNA is not a makers mark , in the cristian context it means " favorite " or refers to Marie the Holly Mother.
The Romans named a year cycle ANNA , like we still use the word ANNO.
It is found every now and then mostly on 16th century blades, and i think your blade is 16th C the hilt around 1700, nothing wrong with that this is clearly mounted with an older blade during or at start of its working life.
I never saw a number following after the word ANNA as we do see it after the word ANNO.
In this case its refering to Marie and - or " the favorite" , in the same way as we find "MARIA" and "IESVS" on swords blades in the 16th and 17th c,
kind regards
Ulfberth

Thank-you for that information, which is all new to me.
Did you notice that there are the remains of additional lettering above the ANNA on one side.
Any clue as to what they might be.

urbanspaceman · 7th January 2025, 10:16 AM

Just a note: I love this sword.

ulfberth · 7th January 2025, 06:33 PM

Thanks Jim !
@ Urbanspaceman , in fact ANNA is two times on the blade if you look closely , inverted to each other. The lines you see before ANNA are not rests of any engravings these are forging lines the structure in the steel that has become visible.
kind regards
Ulberth

ulfberth · 8th January 2025, 01:35 PM

here is the double (inverted) ANNA

urbanspaceman · 8th January 2025, 03:18 PM

Thank-you Ulfberth.

Jim McDougall · 8th January 2025, 04:06 PM

Without looking further for examples, it seems the opposed dual application of names etc. was a convention often seen on Italian blades late 16th through 17th c. While obviously crudely inscribed by someone not necessarily skilled, and copying loosely this often seen manner, perhaps this Italian oriented convention was in mind.
Again, simply a hypothetical option toward possible scenarios.

The opposed configuration brings to mind the familiar 'sickle' marks typically attributed to Genoan origin, which are opposed dentated arcs.

midelburgo · 11th January 2025, 10:36 PM

Many Spanish knifes from XVIII and XIX centuries have grips made with two brass conus.
I have a walloon hilt saber with that sort of grip, as the one analyzed in this thread.
As there were two regiments of Swiss guards in continuous Spanish service, I wonder if this sort of grip could be related to those troops.

7th January 2025, 10:16 AM	#2
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 577	PS Just a note: I love this sword.

8th January 2025, 01:35 PM	#4
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 412	here is the double (inverted) ANNA Attached Images

8th January 2025, 03:18 PM	#5
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 577	inverted ANNA Thank-you Ulfberth.

8th January 2025, 04:06 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	Without looking further for examples, it seems the opposed dual application of names etc. was a convention often seen on Italian blades late 16th through 17th c. While obviously crudely inscribed by someone not necessarily skilled, and copying loosely this often seen manner, perhaps this Italian oriented convention was in mind. Again, simply a hypothetical option toward possible scenarios. The opposed configuration brings to mind the familiar 'sickle' marks typically attributed to Genoan origin, which are opposed dentated arcs. Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 8th January 2025 at 04:20 PM.

7th January 2025, 06:33 PM	#3
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 412	Thanks Jim ! @ Urbanspaceman , in fact ANNA is two times on the blade if you look closely , inverted to each other. The lines you see before ANNA are not rests of any engravings these are forging lines the structure in the steel that has become visible. kind regards Ulberth

11th January 2025, 10:36 PM	#7
midelburgo Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 264	Many Spanish knifes from XVIII and XIX centuries have grips made with two brass conus. I have a walloon hilt saber with that sort of grip, as the one analyzed in this thread. As there were two regiments of Swiss guards in continuous Spanish service, I wonder if this sort of grip could be related to those troops.