Paternosters on blades

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Interested Party

There doesn't have to be large numbers. 15 cycles of 10 prayers would give you 150 Paternosters representing the 150 Psalms popular before the Rosary. Kind of reminds me of a Tibetan prayer wheel in concept. Four decades of Ave Marias with 4 gauds would be a Rosary for the dead. Interesting topic as always and an appropriate topic for my Sunday morning coffee.

Thank you for explaining that further, as clearly I am far from well versed in this area and it helps to understand the relative associations of numbers in these matters. Good note on the Tibetan prayer wheel as well, something I have heard of but honestly never thought much on how they were used.

[Jim McDougall]

The term (= seek and ye shall find) is from the mysterious inscription on the green flag (of Florentine soldiers defending Siena in the Battle of Marciano) in the fresco by Vasari.

I found this "The Paternoster Blade" by Chris Laning, in the Paternoster journal Jan. 8, 2008, in which this 'curiosity' which has been piqued in me seems to have affected others as well.
It is noted as a reference in Stone's huge compendium of 1934 describing the paternoster on sword blade phenomenon, and citing Burton (as I have noted) 1884, p.136 as a source.

The author here describes the fallibility of Victorian scholarship and also suggests that Burton, seeming to be the key source to this notion, likely saw this referred to and elaborated accordingly. While the practice of using the blade decoration as described is unlikely , here another Victorian myth was born.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... I found this "The Paternoster Blade" by Chris Laning, in the Paternoster journal Jan. 8, 2008, in which this 'curiosity' which has been piqued in me seems to have affected others as well...

... As i have previously quoted Chris Laning's paragraph on the subject in my post #10. Looks like this theme development is still not beyond the only existing Burton's fantasy.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fernando

... As i have previously quoted Chris Laning's paragraph on the subject in my post #10. Looks like this theme development is still not beyond the only existing Burton's fantasy.

My apologies Fernando for this oversight, I had not remembered you cited Laning as the author in your excerpt in that post, and I thought I had found support for that content in my effort. Whatever the case, your position on the well described 'Burton fantasy' is well placed, and properly acknowledged. It seems that the advance of serious study of sword history marches on, and I do appreciate the contributions you have always made sincerely.