those mysterious Colichemardes

[urbanspaceman]

It is mysterious Jim. Such an elaborate rendering of the Passau Wolf is entirely possible on an expensive blade down in Austria at that time. I will keep looking, because the fact that an almost identical rendering was used on a 1760s colichemarde suggests it may not be entirely alone.
ps
The talismanics are typical of Passau blades back in the 1620s; not just Solingen.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

It is mysterious Jim. Such an elaborate rendering of the Passau Wolf is entirely possible on an expensive blade down in Austria at that time. I will keep looking, because the fact that an almost identical rendering was used on a 1760s colichemarde suggests it may not be entirely alone.
ps
The talismanics are typical of Passau blades back in the 1620s; not just Solingen.

Such are the mysteries of arms! Gardiner seems reasonably meticulous in his material, so there would seem no reason for this to be inaccurate. To take this to another level, could an Austrian maker from Stehr have been among those fleeing the aftermath of the Thirty Years war into England? Stehr was the center of the Peasants war (1626) trying to overthrow the Bavarian rule, also there were problems with collapse of iron resources.

Tenuous yes, but possible. As you note the talismanic number 1414 was one of the most commonly used in Germany, and ironically often appeared with the 'running wolf' in Solingen. It is tempting to note that Austria in these times was virtually a hotbed of magic and occult influences (East European) which then were absorbed into German contexts.

It would not seem a far stretch for this rendering used in Austria to extend into the shops in Shotley at some point, then adopted by Oley, as noted used by Bewick the artistic engraver.

[Hotspur]

This one from Sweden seems later than the start of hollow trefoil blades

Notes are gone...but iirc, Napoleonic era. I'm thinking it was related to the union with Norway in 1818 and several given by the Swedish king as presentations. Either an old SFI thread or elsewhere. I believe Napoleon had Swedish officers working the cause.

Cheers
GC

[urbanspaceman]

Hello Glen. I am sorry to hear of your malady, you have my sympathy.
Thank-you for joining this thread; this sword strikes me as an anomaly. I don't understand what indicated Scandinavia... but that is to be expected as I am still very much a novice outside of my specialist field. The blade is remarkably similar to the one I posted in my essay - yet a much better quality, so if you don't object I will use your image instead. Thanks again and best wishes for your health.

[urbanspaceman]

deleted.

[Hotspur]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

Hello Glen. I am sorry to hear of your malady, you have my sympathy.
Thank-you for joining this thread; this sword strikes me as an anomaly. I don't understand what indicated Scandinavia... but that is to be expected as I am still very much a novice outside of my specialist field. The blade is remarkably similar to the one I posted in my essay - yet a much better quality, so if you don't object I will use your image instead. Thanks again and best wishes for your health.

Please do use the image. As posted, I don't have the notes from another's observations. Even if just looking at the Freemason's symbology, one can't expect it to predate English publicly published formation of the Scottish Rite. The large gadrooned pommel less common later but still around in the early 19th century.

Then another blade/shard actually in my care that is mid, or later 18th century and correlates to blades in the Bashford Dean catalogue. Alsace associated work coexisting with the hollow blades.

Cheers
GC

Remounted as a poingard, recently

[urbanspaceman]

Thanks Glen.