Help identifying a sword

Jim McDougall · 20th February 2011, 09:19 PM

I think Norman is on target with the Indian assessment, and this appears to possibly be an Indian sosun pattah blade. As for the mounts, these are outstanding and this seems to suggest possibly French military hanger in the 18th century 'hirshfanger' or hunting sword style. These silver mounts and military panoplies lend well to this thought, and the ebony grips were very much favored by French officers in swords around the opening of the 19th c.
French military had adopted a number of 'exotic' auxiliary units after the Egyptian campaigns as well as already having 'pandour' type units which were modelled on the notorious units of Baron von Trenck in the War of Austrian Succession.

In these exotic units, the French officers adopted exotic dress as well as weapons, and as the pandour units had done the same using Ottoman style fashion and yataghans, so the French followed suit. I have seen similar bladed swords with hirshfanger styled hilts and heavy yataghan blades of this type clearly for cavalry use, and ligature with crowned crest engraved in the blade. The hilt had staghorn, another favored material.

Some of these units were Illyrian units in the Balkans, and I cannot recall further details, however, the exotic weapons and dress rang a bell with this, and I strobgly feel it is French, end of the 18th-early 19th c.

Incredibly beautiful weapon!!! and definitely worthy of further research.
The stamped cartouche is similar to others seen on Indian blades from regions in the northwest and is quite possibly in Urdu.

All best regards,
Jim

20th February 2011, 09:19 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	I think Norman is on target with the Indian assessment, and this appears to possibly be an Indian sosun pattah blade. As for the mounts, these are outstanding and this seems to suggest possibly French military hanger in the 18th century 'hirshfanger' or hunting sword style. These silver mounts and military panoplies lend well to this thought, and the ebony grips were very much favored by French officers in swords around the opening of the 19th c. French military had adopted a number of 'exotic' auxiliary units after the Egyptian campaigns as well as already having 'pandour' type units which were modelled on the notorious units of Baron von Trenck in the War of Austrian Succession. In these exotic units, the French officers adopted exotic dress as well as weapons, and as the pandour units had done the same using Ottoman style fashion and yataghans, so the French followed suit. I have seen similar bladed swords with hirshfanger styled hilts and heavy yataghan blades of this type clearly for cavalry use, and ligature with crowned crest engraved in the blade. The hilt had staghorn, another favored material. Some of these units were Illyrian units in the Balkans, and I cannot recall further details, however, the exotic weapons and dress rang a bell with this, and I strobgly feel it is French, end of the 18th-early 19th c. Incredibly beautiful weapon!!! and definitely worthy of further research. The stamped cartouche is similar to others seen on Indian blades from regions in the northwest and is quite possibly in Urdu. All best regards, Jim