|
25th October 2013, 08:16 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 114
|
African Sword with European Mark
Hi Everyone, I have a new sword, African, Manding with a European mark. I would really like to identify this mark. The sword is 29" probably shorten......................thanks............... ..........jimmy
|
26th October 2013, 08:11 AM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 1,693
|
A pity the rest of the text is faded. However, the mark closely resembles one attributed to a British based maker P. Spitzer. Since this is clearly a "G" somebody, I would guess it could be a continuation of the same workshop perhaps. The style of the head at least is a pretty good match.
G Spitzer I know from later bayonet blades, but there's probably been a lot of folks with the name over time. |
26th October 2013, 03:32 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 114
|
thanks Iain...................jimmy
|
26th October 2013, 05:40 PM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,857
|
Just noticing the baldric rings are on the edge side of the scabbard meaning that more then likely the sword hung edge side up under the wearer's shoulder...that might even explain why there are no superfluous ornamental tassals, etc. attached. This sword is all business!
Last edited by CharlesS; 26th October 2013 at 09:05 PM. |
26th October 2013, 07:47 PM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 373
|
Unicorn Marks on koummiya
Jimmy, This makers mark appears on a koummiya They appear to be just initials with a period after each letter. The blade has remnants of silver plating. It's mounted in silver. I tried but, no luck as I recall finding out about the maker. Iains, suggestion may be correct. Regards, Steve
Oh, the sheath on this one has a Roman date 911 for 1911 made up of segments of coins, if I understand their system correctly. the second date looks to be 900 on another Koummiya. Please advise if I'm wrong and this this actually Arabic writing. Thanks, Steve Last edited by archer; 27th October 2013 at 12:57 AM. Reason: more info |
27th October 2013, 01:09 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 1,693
|
Great corroborating example Steve! I was more less taking a guess on Spitzer part, but seeing that your blade as the G.S. initials it becomes much clearer.
This would place it as a Solingen trade blade, which is about what you'd expect given the mounts and circumstances. I've often wondered if some of these later Solingen blades started out as military pattern imports to equip local colonial forces? |
30th October 2013, 08:32 AM | #7 | |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
|
Quote:
Of course I am aware that in the 19th C , the British government used a lot of Solingen contract blade makers ( culminating in the great bayonet scandal of the 1880s ) , many of whom were based in Britai , but do you have any pictures of Spitzer marked British blades ? I have many of these contract blades but to date have never encountered a Spitzer marked one . |
|
30th October 2013, 12:52 PM | #8 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 1,693
|
Quote:
|
|
30th October 2013, 03:17 PM | #9 | |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
|
Quote:
I cannot locate the maker P- Spitzer but I have just checked out a ref in John Walters German Bayonets book...he mentions a Carl Gustav Spitzer 1873 - 1972 Solingen, Felder Str. Stamp; a wide variety of marks applied including BAAS and Codex, devices used include a lion, a lion and a fish, a hammock, crossed open pocket iknives and the head of a farmer. As you say , a late comer into the bayonet field not known to have been involved in the manufacture of edged weapons until c1938. (Ref Walter p 158) . |
|
30th October 2013, 03:47 PM | #10 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
|
I enquired with a friend who has an extensive library and he has just checked the two volume set by Schlesinger of the Solingen rolls/registers and has found a Gottried Spitzer 1865 and a Hans Peter Spitzer 1719 .
|
30th October 2013, 03:54 PM | #11 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 114
|
you guys are the best....................jimmy
|
31st October 2013, 09:08 AM | #12 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
|
And just to add further to the mystery .. here is an Italian pistol from the 1860s with a very similar GS on it !
|
|
|