My Great Grandfather's Sword

ariel · 6th October 2006, 10:53 PM

I agree completely. Fix it witn minimal damage or alterations. After all, the main value of this sword is sentimental: would you want to take an old picture of your ancestor and Photoshop his wrinkles out?
As to the blade: I have an Ethiopian Gourade with a Russian Zlatoust blade marked on the spine "August 1853". Go figure how it ended there..... Must have been quite a story.
Gorgeous sword and a great family relic! Take very good care of it and be proud every time your grandma allows you to play with it for a while

S.Al-Anizi · 7th October 2006, 12:22 PM

Thank you for the compliments battara, spiral, lee, and ariel.

Lee, European blades were, as you said, valued at that time, primarily because of their good steel and excellent temper. Even though they were primitive, bedouins knew good steel from bad steel, and I would think that the huge trade in blades between Europe and the region is a main factor in the decline of local blade manufacture, as there was no demand for them. Primarily because of the lack of proper heat treatment to them. The blade was properly sharpened, but the edge has been lost to time. The reason why blades were often refitted, be they Kaskara's, Saif's, Nimcha's, Takouba's, is because in these weapons were used within lawless, even primitive societies, which kept using swords and other edged weapons well into the 20th century, and most blades were heirloom items, passed down from father to son. That way, fittings get damaged from normal use with time, so they tend to get replaced.

Ariel, Lee, what type of epoxy do you suggest? Ive got all the kinds of epoxy i can find, but which type is most suitable?

6th October 2006, 10:53 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I agree completely. Fix it witn minimal damage or alterations. After all, the main value of this sword is sentimental: would you want to take an old picture of your ancestor and Photoshop his wrinkles out? As to the blade: I have an Ethiopian Gourade with a Russian Zlatoust blade marked on the spine "August 1853". Go figure how it ended there..... Must have been quite a story. Gorgeous sword and a great family relic! Take very good care of it and be proud every time your grandma allows you to play with it for a while

7th October 2006, 12:22 PM	#2
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Thank you for the compliments battara, spiral, lee, and ariel. Lee, European blades were, as you said, valued at that time, primarily because of their good steel and excellent temper. Even though they were primitive, bedouins knew good steel from bad steel, and I would think that the huge trade in blades between Europe and the region is a main factor in the decline of local blade manufacture, as there was no demand for them. Primarily because of the lack of proper heat treatment to them. The blade was properly sharpened, but the edge has been lost to time. The reason why blades were often refitted, be they Kaskara's, Saif's, Nimcha's, Takouba's, is because in these weapons were used within lawless, even primitive societies, which kept using swords and other edged weapons well into the 20th century, and most blades were heirloom items, passed down from father to son. That way, fittings get damaged from normal use with time, so they tend to get replaced. Ariel, Lee, what type of epoxy do you suggest? Ive got all the kinds of epoxy i can find, but which type is most suitable?