Katar Blade Markings & Origin ?

archer · 4th March 2012, 07:50 PM

These blade marking are puzzling. They are on both sides of the blade, given the blades up sweep is at the top. They are mostly complete even though in
a fuller. I guess they may be numbers due to the fact they only contain four
or five characters. I'd love to find out the blades origins, etc.

Thank you in advance, Steve

Rick · 4th March 2012, 08:56 PM

When I look at those symbols and free-associate, I come up with an approximation of GENOA .. the N being backwards .

.02

archer · 4th March 2012, 10:00 PM

Hey Rick, that was quick and money well spent. I'm either too dyslexic or not enough. Genoa it must be. LOL, Steve

Stan S. · 5th March 2012, 03:43 AM

Nice katar. I recently squires a similar one from a fellow forumite. That looks like a recycled sword blade. The markings may very well refer to Genoa, as genoise blades were thought to be of very fine quality. However, I would not be surprised if the blade is of local manufacture with the inscreption added to increase value. This would certainly explain the peculiar writing style, and I am only referring to an inverted "N".

Rick · 5th March 2012, 03:51 AM

Yeah, I think it is an 'approximation' of a Genoa mark .
I would not try to begin to guess where this blade was manufactured .

archer · 5th March 2012, 05:21 AM

Talk about being snake bit. I couldn't see the forest or the trees. It's Tanjore cousin is a bit more ornate. This type of blade was apparently being imported and in vogue in the 1600s. The upper arm guard is bent out from use or to give greater additional wrist motion. This seems common with curved Katars.

It's reasonable to assume that the blade was marked in India. A lot of the imports had whole phrases in Latin. I think the Katar has age showing it has nearly lost all of heavy silver plating. The blade doesn't show the same dark aging, it displays almost an active rust and the reddish tone seen on so may
recent creations.

4th March 2012, 07:50 PM	#1
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Katar Blade Markings & Origin ? These blade marking are puzzling. They are on both sides of the blade, given the blades up sweep is at the top. They are mostly complete even though in a fuller. I guess they may be numbers due to the fact they only contain four or five characters. I'd love to find out the blades origins, etc. Thank you in advance, Steve Attached Images

4th March 2012, 10:00 PM	#3
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Wow Hey Rick, that was quick and money well spent. I'm either too dyslexic or not enough. Genoa it must be. LOL, Steve

5th March 2012, 05:21 AM	#6
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Follow up Talk about being snake bit. I couldn't see the forest or the trees. It's Tanjore cousin is a bit more ornate. This type of blade was apparently being imported and in vogue in the 1600s. The upper arm guard is bent out from use or to give greater additional wrist motion. This seems common with curved Katars. It's reasonable to assume that the blade was marked in India. A lot of the imports had whole phrases in Latin. I think the Katar has age showing it has nearly lost all of heavy silver plating. The blade doesn't show the same dark aging, it displays almost an active rust and the reddish tone seen on so may recent creations. Attached Images Last edited by archer; 5th March 2012 at 04:24 PM.

4th March 2012, 08:56 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	When I look at those symbols and free-associate, I come up with an approximation of GENOA .. the N being backwards . .02

5th March 2012, 03:43 AM	#4
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Nice katar. I recently squires a similar one from a fellow forumite. That looks like a recycled sword blade. The markings may very well refer to Genoa, as genoise blades were thought to be of very fine quality. However, I would not be surprised if the blade is of local manufacture with the inscreption added to increase value. This would certainly explain the peculiar writing style, and I am only referring to an inverted "N".

5th March 2012, 03:51 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	Yeah, I think it is an 'approximation' of a Genoa mark . I would not try to begin to guess where this blade was manufactured .