Hunting Sword, Thoughts?

A Senefelder · 6th August 2015, 12:29 AM

A friend and co-worked of mine who is predominantly collects ACW and War of 1812 recently shared a curious European hunting sword with me. I ask his permission to share it here to see what folks thoughts on it might be. The blade is the real curiousity of it. I believe it is wootz and have attached a pic close up pic of the pattern. The long snakey raised figures on either side of the blade running full length with gold decoration are something I've never scene before. He knows nothing at this time beyond what the person from whom he obtained it told him which is that this sword was a WWII bring back. He took lots of pictures so I will post the best/most relevant for perusal. Any and all thoughts regarding country of origin, maker age ect. are welcome and appreciated.

Henk · 6th August 2015, 02:53 PM

Some better pictures of te blade and the snake tail would certainly help.
My two cents? Pamor or wootz blade? Snake tail? A hirschfanger from the Tjikeroe area. That's my first guess.

Rick · 6th August 2015, 07:34 PM

I'd agree with you Henk, but for the stamp(s) on the tang and the furniture castings ...

Tang stamp rotated:

A Senefelder · 7th August 2015, 02:06 AM

My buddy is out of town until Monday. I have messaged him that pics of the full blade and snake on it would be of assistance upon his return. Here's a few more of the pics he took.

Henk · 7th August 2015, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I'd agree with you Henk, but for the stamp(s) on the tang and the furniture castings ...

Tang stamp rotated:

That was my idea too Rick. The stamps on the tang puzzled me most. Reproducing the furniture castings was a job they could do pretty well over there.

Rick · 7th August 2015, 03:32 PM

A nice sharp picture of the stamps will probably answer the question of origin (of the blade at least) .

fernando · 8th August 2015, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

A nice sharp picture of the stamps will probably answer the question of origin (of the blade at least) .

Yes ... vital !!!

Ian · 8th August 2015, 07:56 PM

Even though it resembles in some ways the swords from western Java (Tjikeroeh and environs), I think this one is European with a prominently laminated blade.

The absence of a prominent single fuller with engraved vines and leaves is important, and we do not see the place name (or its abbreviated form) inscribed at forte along with the year of manufacture. The marks on the tang are also atypical and appear to have been stamped, whereas the marks on Tjike blades are all chiseled and scribed.

This style of sword or one like it may have been an inspiration for some of the west Java swords that were made towards the end of the 19th C. through to about the 1920s.

Ian.

ingelred · 10th August 2015, 02:01 PM

Hi there,

one of the words clearly reads "Damast" meaning damascus steel.
According to some sources I have (i.e. Manfred Sachse: Damaszener-Stahl. Mythos. Geschichte. Technik. Anwendung) blades forged in Solingen in the 19th century made of damascus steel were marked like this on the tang, so I assume it was made in Solingen, Germany.

Best regards, Helge

A Senefelder · 10th August 2015, 11:37 PM

I spoke with my buddy who will take pics of the whole blade. He has contacted the person from whom he got it and it was a WWII bring back from Czechoslovakia.

Rick · 11th August 2015, 02:43 AM

I guess the question then arises: is the snake element Eastern or Western influence ?

6th August 2015, 12:29 AM	#1
A Senefelder Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 214	Hunting Sword, Thoughts? A friend and co-worked of mine who is predominantly collects ACW and War of 1812 recently shared a curious European hunting sword with me. I ask his permission to share it here to see what folks thoughts on it might be. The blade is the real curiousity of it. I believe it is wootz and have attached a pic close up pic of the pattern. The long snakey raised figures on either side of the blade running full length with gold decoration are something I've never scene before. He knows nothing at this time beyond what the person from whom he obtained it told him which is that this sword was a WWII bring back. He took lots of pictures so I will post the best/most relevant for perusal. Any and all thoughts regarding country of origin, maker age ect. are welcome and appreciated. Attached Images

6th August 2015, 07:34 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,261	I'd agree with you Henk, but for the stamp(s) on the tang and the furniture castings ... Tang stamp rotated: Attached Images

7th August 2015, 02:06 AM	#4
A Senefelder Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 214	My buddy is out of town until Monday. I have messaged him that pics of the full blade and snake on it would be of assistance upon his return. Here's a few more of the pics he took. Attached Images

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6th August 2015, 02:53 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Some better pictures of te blade and the snake tail would certainly help. My two cents? Pamor or wootz blade? Snake tail? A hirschfanger from the Tjikeroe area. That's my first guess.

7th August 2015, 03:32 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,261	A nice sharp picture of the stamps will probably answer the question of origin (of the blade at least) .

8th August 2015, 07:56 PM	#8
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,023	Even though it resembles in some ways the swords from western Java (Tjikeroeh and environs), I think this one is European with a prominently laminated blade. The absence of a prominent single fuller with engraved vines and leaves is important, and we do not see the place name (or its abbreviated form) inscribed at forte along with the year of manufacture. The marks on the tang are also atypical and appear to have been stamped, whereas the marks on Tjike blades are all chiseled and scribed. This style of sword or one like it may have been an inspiration for some of the west Java swords that were made towards the end of the 19th C. through to about the 1920s. Ian.

10th August 2015, 02:01 PM	#9
ingelred Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Moenchengladbach, Germany Posts: 62	Hi there, one of the words clearly reads "Damast" meaning damascus steel. According to some sources I have (i.e. Manfred Sachse: Damaszener-Stahl. Mythos. Geschichte. Technik. Anwendung) blades forged in Solingen in the 19th century made of damascus steel were marked like this on the tang, so I assume it was made in Solingen, Germany. Best regards, Helge

10th August 2015, 11:37 PM	#10
A Senefelder Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 214	I spoke with my buddy who will take pics of the whole blade. He has contacted the person from whom he got it and it was a WWII bring back from Czechoslovakia.

11th August 2015, 02:43 AM	#11
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,261	I guess the question then arises: is the snake element Eastern or Western influence ?