15th to 16th Century North Italian Edged Weapons and Their Marks

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by katana

Excellent post Micheal (AKA Mikey )

Hi Jim ,
notice one of the marks if slightly altered becomes the eyelash mark....started a thread on Ethnograghic
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10871


This mark.....

.

By heavens! You may be onto something there Holmes!!!!!
David, you are truly incredibly astute, and the connection does present distinct possibilities.
I am so glad that Mikey posted these pages from this wonderful reference as it really does seem that one of the primary forces in the wider diffusion of weapon forms was that of the trade networks of Northern Italy in those times. You know my long standing fascination with these markings, and it seems that the 'eyelash' (most commonly known as 'sickle' mark) is generally agreed to have originated in Northern Italy probably sometime in the early Renaissance period.
It would seem that it is most likely a guild associated marking, as it is typically congruent to other markings often associated with particular makers rather than a designation for a maker itself.
It was long believed that the markings had begun in Genoa, as it had become associated with trade blades from Genoa and many so marked, but it was as well known in Lucca and other centers as well. What was key was that Genoa was an export port as well as having established colonies in the outer regions of trade networks such as the Black Sea, and from here these blades were diffused widely.
Eventually the markings, in various interpretation, became applied by other European armourers, as well as those in other cultural environments, such as in the Chechen regions (the 'gurda' blades) and in Afghanistan/North India usually on paluoar blades.

This is at least what I have considered plausible thus far, and your observation definitely adds to what seems the true origins of this mysterious marking, in this case used in somewhat more complex grouping.

Thank you so much for adding that, and Michael (aka Mikey again for this magnificent thread! The weapons of North Italy present so many avenues for weapons research, and this thread is the perfect benchmark for many discussions, as can be seen by the new thread started by David.

The game is once again afoot! Forward!!!!

All the very best,
Jim

[Matchlock]

Brilliant, David, thanks!

Mikey

[Matchlock]

This has been in my collection for seven years. No other similar saber is known in any museum or private collection.


Ca. 1510-15, retaining natural staghorn grips (maybe a working time replacement) fixed by iron tubular rivets and the single edged blade preserved in its original length but reduced somewhat in width by long and heavy use, the tip double edged; the overall length of the saber is 94 cm. This one may well have seen service at the famous Battle of Pavia in 1525.

Note that the rare trefoil pommel is not riveted but copper soldered to the tang which, together with the two piece staghorn grips fixed with tubular rivets, denotes that this light saber is characteristic cutlery work, just like a Grosses Messer or Seitenwehr (Kurzwehr) - does anyone know the English term - Cornelis?

The item is preserved in virtually 'untouched' condition throughout; the blade is partially pitted and jagged, the hilt retains much of its original blackened surface and is pitted. After I applied olive oil to the iron surfaces (the contemporary so-called tree oil used in armories for hundreds of years) the rust turned to a bluey black which, interestingly enough and according to my experience, is absolutely typical of all ironwork surfaces between roughly ca. 1480 and 1540.

This piece goes perfectly together with my four early 16th century Landsknecht matchlock arquebuses to which it also closely corresponds in its overall length.

Enjoy the pics - I've finally gone digital; a heartfelt 'thanks' goes to Richard for encouraging me - how are you, my friend?

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

The rest of the pics.

More to come tomorrow.

Michael

[Matchlock]

On it goes with scans from Armi Bianche Italiane.

The hand and a half sword belonged to the Holy Roman Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I.

[Matchlock]

Enjoy.

[Matchlock]

Italian Renaissance style at its most refined.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Brilliant, David, thanks!

Mikey

So now, it's Mickey, hein?


.

[Matchlock]

Well, it's Miguel to you, Fernando, my friend, anyway!

[Matchlock]

These are called Malchus swords in German, named after the soldier whose ear was reportedly chopped off by St. Peter at Getsemani.

[Matchlock]

The hammer with the additional snap matchlock ca. 1550, the one combined with a wheel-lock ca. 1530. The rear ends of the stocks are copper soldered hollow iron tubes scheduled to receive the ramrod and fitted with a swiveling cover (see third pic, right).

The mirrored Z shaped ornaments on the nails or screws of the wheel-lock hammer are characteristic of almost all early 16th century ironwork. I attach two photos of an important Nuremberg padlock, ca. 1525-30, formerly in my collection, with the same Z decoration for comparison (see both ends of the bottom bar in the second image).

Now that was a little excerpt from Armi Bianche Italiane.

Best,
Michael