A mysterious Transylvanian sword : a Sino-Japanese influence possible ?

Andrew · 30th April 2005, 09:40 PM

This is such a cool sword, I really do hope you can dig up some photos of the blade, Radu!

The Japanese connection is apparant to me in the tsuba-like guard and the cosmetic "seppa" and "habaki" at the forte. These features do, as Mark has illustrated, appear on some SEA weapons, likely the result of Japanese or, perhaps, Chinese influence.

Some questions: is the handle round in cross-section? It appears to be, albeit flaring towards the pommel. Conical?

Does the blade have a ridge-line, like a shinogi, or is it a wedge cross-section? If a ridge-line is present, the Japanese connection gets ever stronger, and if a wedge, with that flat spine, I'm leaning more and more toward's Mark's theory.

The tip geometry, and blade construction may well decide matters as to influence and/or origin of the blade. Tom's note about the tang may be impossible to ever learn, but would also be very edifying.

Please keep us posted, Radu.

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30th April 2005, 09:40 PM	#16
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	This is such a cool sword, I really do hope you can dig up some photos of the blade, Radu! The Japanese connection is apparant to me in the tsuba-like guard and the cosmetic "seppa" and "habaki" at the forte. These features do, as Mark has illustrated, appear on some SEA weapons, likely the result of Japanese or, perhaps, Chinese influence. Some questions: is the handle round in cross-section? It appears to be, albeit flaring towards the pommel. Conical? Does the blade have a ridge-line, like a shinogi, or is it a wedge cross-section? If a ridge-line is present, the Japanese connection gets ever stronger, and if a wedge, with that flat spine, I'm leaning more and more toward's Mark's theory. The tip geometry, and blade construction may well decide matters as to influence and/or origin of the blade. Tom's note about the tang may be impossible to ever learn, but would also be very edifying. Please keep us posted, Radu.