16th century halberd; origin??

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Have a look at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=halberd where an identically stamped weapon is at #1.

Brilliant Ibrahiim!!!
Following the links leads to the original source of this halberd, apparently one of a pair several months ago discussed on other forums. While not 'exact', it is compellingly like the mark of a Pankraz Taller, a blacksmith for the Styrian armory in Graz c. 1575-1612. The mark is the same 'X' in cartouche with two 'dots' (?)
It seems halberds had these stamped cartouches in the same location on rear blade 16th-into 17th.
While markings sources I checked revealed no others like this, nor mention of Taller (reference was "Euro Journal Heft" 1/2000 in article Katharina Ulbrich discussing blacksmiths in this armory). ....I did find another crossed lines mark with added lines geometrically configured. Also another cartouche with initials HW as shown in post here and another circular found elsewhere.These all on halberds late 16th.

In Wallace Coll. (Mann, 1962, A953, p. 452) is a similarly bladed halberd also with brass rosettes, but highly decorated, no markings, German and dated 1593 with motif to Archduke Ernst (1553-1595).