Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
As Iain has well noted, this blade might tenuously be late 18th c. and really nothing that distinguishes it as European.
The descriptive term the dealer might have prudently used is 'of the style' of many 16th century and later blades. In the defense of many dealers, many of them actually believe this, some conveniently overlook it.
As Iain notes also, those twin moons (dukari) were invariably stamped on the native made blades that were apparently termed 'masri' and used throughout the Sahara on takouba. This example I think is a brilliant example as it was clearly long in circulation as seen by the wavering edges reflecting the rough sharpening with stones in the desert.
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Well noted Jim, the issue I think is that this triple fuller pattern blade was in existence in the European context for several centuries as well as widely copied abroad. This blade may well be European, even if the marks are somewhat spurious.
I don't have the swords anymore but I still have something of an image archive left from the 'takouba years' and this is one that I would consider has actual European half moons potentially. The difference is quite evident I would say.