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[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Philip

Hi, Jim
Yes indeed, during the 19th cent. Solingen makers were quite active in the export trade, not only selling complete swords of military pattern to countries in Latin America, Asia, and even to the US, but also sold bare blades to parts of the world which had prior exposure to European swords in centuries past. In many cases, the style and markings were very close to the originals, certainly not current at the time.

Years ago, I had a Chinese sword, late Qing, with a blade that looked for all the world like it belonged on a 17th cent. European horseman's broadsword -- lenticular cross-section with three narrow fullers down the center. And with addorsed crescent moons, and "P D Lüneschloss Solingen" on each side, etched in somewhat rough letters imitating the hand-chiseled blade inscriptions of the 1600s. Only thing, Paul D Lüneschloss did not begin operations until 1810 (they were primarily a military weapons producer until the first half of the 20th cent.). Also, the fullers on this blade were obviously machine-cut, without the slight irregularities of pre-industrial work.

I tried to find images of the sword (taken in pre-digital age) but they are long gone. But I do recall seeing an identical blade mounted in a talwar hilt, in one of the catalogs of that longtime antique arms dealer in Miami Beach, Marv Hoffman, I'm sure you remember him.

Philip

Thank you Philip!!! Always outstanding information and insights, and I also recall numbers of instances of PD Luneschloss. Mostly recall Victorian blades with the PDL in an oval on the blade. Its good to hear the note on the addorsed crescent moons, which of course became regarded as the near trademark on Hausa and Tuareg blades. Briggs seemed to consider that these were never in this paired configuration on European blades.

I do very much recall the Hoffman brothers!!! and those "Museum of Historical Arms" catalogs, which have become treasured little books for reference (usually). These used to turn up in old used book stores, and I would grab them, just for the memories (mostly 70s).

[Philip]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I do very much recall the Hoffman brothers!!! and those "Museum of Historical Arms" catalogs, which have become treasured little books for reference (usually). These used to turn up in old used book stores, and I would grab them, just for the memories (mostly 70s).

Hey Jim, did you ever add to your collection from their stock? Their catalogs were pretty rudimentary by today's marketing standards (like the glossy auction catalogs put out by RIA, Hermann, and Czerny, not to forget Peter Finer's hoity-toity productions where every item is "POR"). But back in the day, the Hoffmanns were among the few dealers who cranked out a wish book on glossy paper with every item photographed (haha, if only in small format against pegboard, it was better than the hand-drawn entries that Robert Abels of NY got away with for years). My eyes grow moist when I leaf through one of those old catalogs and look at the prices!