Wotsit no. 3

fernando · 13th August 2019, 11:50 AM

I am impressed by your translating skills, Wayne

.
Indeed this is a very Spanish (Castillian) refrain, surely older than your wotsit

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It is invoked twice by Sancho in Cervantes great work Dom Quixote de la Mancha. From then on, a lot of interpretations has been given to this phrase (some anecdotal) but all within similar connotation. From the Sufi parable "Trust in Allah but tether your camel first" to the period of Pizarro in Cuzco where his men had the smiths engraving in their swords the phrase 'corrupted', swapping the mallet for espada (sword).
The picture you post is rather fuzzy, crest pommel and all. Wait till you get the thing in hands and check whether (hopefully) it is not a decoration item ... which i am afraid it certainly is

.

kronckew · 13th August 2019, 01:48 PM

Google translate failed me. Had to do a bit more research & found a reference to Spanish poetry for the hammer part and a bit more serendipity let me stumble on a proper translation of a Spanish poem and an explanation of it's connection to our English version. The Spanish one is more artistic & decorative tho.

The Mexicans seem to have a habit of etching stiff like that on their personal weapons...

I can see the below crest in there if I squint hard enough. All will be revealed on it's arrival. The crest below is a gold damascene version of the Royal crest of Toledoon a button. As noted it is at least decorative...

kronckew · 17th August 2019, 11:56 AM

Ah, well, sword arrived. As I had secretly suspected, It's Mexican, marked "Noriega Hermanos" hecho Mexico, they apparently make 'Collectable sword machetes. Heavy broad distal tapered blade,butter-knife sharp edge, guard looks like cast aluminum, rest is a single headed n eagle, rampant lion shield on blade ricasso. grip is indeed stacked leather and thicker around than I like. No scabbard, needs reprofiling when I get around to it. Not of the highest quality I'd say. Other side is also etched with a pair of hunting lions, a female and a maned male in a jungle scene. Not terribly well balanced. Bit of rust here and there. Pommel is indeed a knights helmet in aluminum. It cost about the same as a couple pints of beer in London.

so no gret tragedy.

MY other Mexican sword machete (below) is a lot finer & better made & useable. It's made by a better mfg. in Oaxaca. Mexico. It is cool. (And Odd)

13th August 2019, 01:48 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	Google translate failed me. Had to do a bit more research & found a reference to Spanish poetry for the hammer part and a bit more serendipity let me stumble on a proper translation of a Spanish poem and an explanation of it's connection to our English version. The Spanish one is more artistic & decorative tho. The Mexicans seem to have a habit of etching stiff like that on their personal weapons... I can see the below crest in there if I squint hard enough. All will be revealed on it's arrival. The crest below is a gold damascene version of the Royal crest of Toledoon a button. As noted it is at least decorative... Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 13th August 2019 at 02:20 PM.

17th August 2019, 11:56 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	Ah, well, sword arrived. As I had secretly suspected, It's Mexican, marked "Noriega Hermanos" hecho Mexico, they apparently make 'Collectable sword machetes. Heavy broad distal tapered blade,butter-knife sharp edge, guard looks like cast aluminum, rest is a single headed n eagle, rampant lion shield on blade ricasso. grip is indeed stacked leather and thicker around than I like. No scabbard, needs reprofiling when I get around to it. Not of the highest quality I'd say. Other side is also etched with a pair of hunting lions, a female and a maned male in a jungle scene. Not terribly well balanced. Bit of rust here and there. Pommel is indeed a knights helmet in aluminum. It cost about the same as a couple pints of beer in London. so no gret tragedy. MY other Mexican sword machete (below) is a lot finer & better made & useable. It's made by a better mfg. in Oaxaca. Mexico. It is cool. (And Odd) Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 17th August 2019 at 12:17 PM.

13th August 2019, 11:50 AM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I am impressed by your translating skills, Wayne . Indeed this is a very Spanish (Castillian) refrain, surely older than your wotsit . It is invoked twice by Sancho in Cervantes great work Dom Quixote de la Mancha. From then on, a lot of interpretations has been given to this phrase (some anecdotal) but all within similar connotation. From the Sufi parable "Trust in Allah but tether your camel first" to the period of Pizarro in Cuzco where his men had the smiths engraving in their swords the phrase 'corrupted', swapping the mallet for espada (sword). The picture you post is rather fuzzy, crest pommel and all. Wait till you get the thing in hands and check whether (hopefully) it is not a decoration item ... which i am afraid it certainly is .