What language is the writing on the hilt of this sword?

Dmitry · 24th December 2009, 04:31 AM

Thank you!

Henk · 24th December 2009, 08:55 AM

Looks arabic to me. You better post pictures of the complete sword. Maybe one of the forumites will translate it for you. But the reward for a translation is pictures of the complete sword

Dmitry · 24th December 2009, 05:32 PM

...

Battara · 24th December 2009, 08:43 PM

Could it be Turkish (which at an earlier time used Arabic script)? Towards the end of the empire they also used western style swords.

Jim McDougall · 25th December 2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Could it be Turkish (which at an earlier time used Arabic script)? Towards the end of the empire they also used western style swords.

Well observed Jose!!
In the later 19th century, British sword makers often supplied various foreign powers with military swords, including the Ottomans, and this 'gothic' style milirary pattern was one frequently used.

Best regards,
Jim

("European Armoury" forum, a subforum here

Dom · 30th December 2009, 02:09 PM

Hi
probably Turkish, not Arabic

even it's the same alphabet

à +

Dom

Zifir · 30th December 2009, 04:07 PM

Hi,
I cannot read it, so it can't be Turkish

(just joking)
Seriously I don't know, can it be Persian or even Urdu?

ariel · 31st December 2009, 03:03 AM

Doesn't the blade have Indian ricasso?
If so, it is likely to be one of the peri-Indian Arabic-based languages.

Jim McDougall · 31st December 2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Doesn't the blade have Indian ricasso?
If so, it is likely to be one of the peri-Indian Arabic-based languages.

Now theres an astute observation Ariel!!! I hadnt even noticed that, and that along with Zifir's suggestion of Urdu makes Indian attribution more feasible.
This is clearly a representation of the 'gothic' style military hilts of Great Britain, which I believe were among the many forms of British military swords copied for native regiments during the Raj.
While most 'colonial' type swords were produced in England to be sent to supply regiments, it seems these and most weapons for that purpose had the 'ISD' stamp. The weapons produced or furbished in the subcontract armouries apparantly did not carry this stamp, and there were many units that were essentially privately raised by commercial interests such as railways etc. These were basically police type units.

It would be great to find out what this inscription says!!!

All best regards,
Jim

24th December 2009, 04:31 AM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	What language is the writing on the hilt of this sword? Thank you! Attached Images

24th December 2009, 05:32 PM	#3
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	... Attached Images

24th December 2009, 08:55 AM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Looks arabic to me. You better post pictures of the complete sword. Maybe one of the forumites will translate it for you. But the reward for a translation is pictures of the complete sword

24th December 2009, 08:43 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Could it be Turkish (which at an earlier time used Arabic script)? Towards the end of the empire they also used western style swords.

30th December 2009, 02:09 PM	#6
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	Hi probably Turkish, not Arabic even it's the same alphabet à + Dom

30th December 2009, 04:07 PM	#7
Zifir Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Istanbul Posts: 228	Hi, I cannot read it, so it can't be Turkish (just joking) Seriously I don't know, can it be Persian or even Urdu?

31st December 2009, 03:03 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Doesn't the blade have Indian ricasso? If so, it is likely to be one of the peri-Indian Arabic-based languages.