Thank you very much, Ian!
A wonderful and very valuable article. I now need to thoroughly study and rethink it, but it will undoubtedly be helpful in my work.
Thanks, Edster!
In my online archive, these three pages are labeled "Colonial trade with Africa." The most interesting thing is that I was convinced I downloaded them from Vikingsword. I usually make sure to save the download address, but not in this case.
I've tried searching using various methods, including those you suggest, but so far without success.
What interests me most about this article is this:
"At Solingen, a special sword was made for export, modeled after the Tuareg sword—a long, straight, double-edged blade with a cross-shaped pommel, which has sometimes been likened to and confused with crusader swords (LNA 153, NGM 56:4 p 474, PM EH 34 p 69). The blades of the Tuareg sword might be of European, possibly also American, origin, and were imported especially to Africa to be mounted according to local tastes before being re-exported to Touat and Ghat (RTS 2 p. 116). Traditionally, at any rate, there was also an import from the Orient to the Mediterranean coast. Straight German sword blades were imported to Darfor (bas 302 f).
Various sources have too often mentioned swords from Solingen or "commodity blades" specifically made for Africa, but I have yet to receive any real, documentary confirmation. I wrote to you that I contacted the Solingen Museum, but they have no information.
On the other hand, if swords and blades were shipped commercially in the 19th century, why haven't any examples survived?
This question, which has been discussed for about two hundred years, remains open, and I want to get to the bottom of it.
Sincerely,
Yuri
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