Yet another nimcha thread
 

There have really been quite a few threads on nimchas recently, but I decided to start a separate one for mine as I do not want to hijack somebody else's thread.

I believe this one is from the 19th century, with a European blade. Unfortunately the blade shows no markings and my first question is, can somebody help identify the pattern? I am guessing French cavalry, perhaps M 1822, but I am really not sure.
The hilt has some damage - on one side a few holes have been filled with epoxy, and I think the wire repair is also recent. I am planning to leave it as it is, though, but what would you advice?

Thanks,

Teodor

Hi TVV,
I am wondering whether the wooden hilt is 'relatively' new. Looking at the posted picture, there seems to be little 'rubbing' or smoothed areas on the wood's surface where the sword was held.
But then again ...we all know that pictures can be deceiving :rolleyes:

It is not wood, but horn. Not sure what kind. Deffinitely not wood though.

See what I mean :) VVV, Do you think that it has been re-hilted ?

With the coarse looking grain to it, do you think the hilt is rhino horn?

Nice looking blade, no expert but to me it looks likr it could be French cavalry.
These swords are a bit different and Very likeable!!!

Thanks for posting pics,

Richard

David and Richard,
Both of you asked great questions. Everything I know about rhino horn is based on opinions and examples from this forum. In other threads I read that along the legth of the horn it should exhibit a fibrous structure similar to the one on my hilt, and if cut in an angle parallell to the blade, it should look somewhat like an orange skin. I took a picture of the pommel and I do see something like that. I am still not 100% sure, but it may be rhino. I was hoping it was not, so that I would not have any problems in case one day I decide to return to Bulgaria, where I am originally from.
If it is rhino, I would guess that it was original to the sword. You can see how the tang is peaned over the pommel. The guard is deffinitely not a replacement. The hilt is slightly loose, which I think is a result of the previous attempt to repair it, after it was attacked by dermestids or whatever those nasty little bugs that ruin horn hilts are called. Hence the few holes filled with epoxy. The band below the guard appears to be a replacement. It appears that during the repair from the bugs the hilt was disassembled and as the tang was peaned over it, the only way to do this was to take a chunk off the heel of the hilt, where now a small peace of sheet metal is fastened with the wire. Whoever did it was a poor craftsmen, but the damage is already done.
Regards,
Teodor

Yep thats Rhino horn.


Spiral

Thanks Spiral. Now I guess I should try to get it restored.

Teodor