Stamp on Indian Sword

Jim McDougall · 14th June 2018, 04:53 PM

It is my impression that this is plausibly a European blade which probably came from Styrian context. The reason this marking has 'Genoan' character is that these centers were highly influenced by Genoan traders who brought their weapons into various entrepots.
However, for Indian makers, their 'interpretations' usually were augmented with much simpler marks, most commonly the 'sickle' (paired and dentated arcs) mark.

This one is far too detailed following the conventions of Styrian marking in my opinion. The history of the FRINGIA markings is intriguing, and carries back to the 16th century in Eastern Europe and the Holy Roman Empire. This blade has some character of the varied 'dusagge' type swords which were used in these regions from those early times, but probably is much later.

These markings with the Fringia and similar terms or words which seem most likely acronyms were widely copied in these configurations, but in European contexts.

The blade seems well worn as would indicate a great deal of profile alteration from extensive 'work'.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

14th June 2018, 04:53 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	It is my impression that this is plausibly a European blade which probably came from Styrian context. The reason this marking has 'Genoan' character is that these centers were highly influenced by Genoan traders who brought their weapons into various entrepots. However, for Indian makers, their 'interpretations' usually were augmented with much simpler marks, most commonly the 'sickle' (paired and dentated arcs) mark. This one is far too detailed following the conventions of Styrian marking in my opinion. The history of the FRINGIA markings is intriguing, and carries back to the 16th century in Eastern Europe and the Holy Roman Empire. This blade has some character of the varied 'dusagge' type swords which were used in these regions from those early times, but probably is much later. These markings with the Fringia and similar terms or words which seem most likely acronyms were widely copied in these configurations, but in European contexts. The blade seems well worn as would indicate a great deal of profile alteration from extensive 'work'.