|
3rd April 2024, 01:05 PM | #1 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 898
|
A nice example
It will not surprise me if you discover no break hidden under the reinforcing plates. I have seen such plates on many takouba; the forte is the strongest part of a blade, so breaks there should not be anticipated. Perhaps the intent was as a stiffener, or to change the balance or to lengthen a blade by adding an extension. In any case it is a very nice sword. The mounts are probably mid 20th century and the blade earlier.
|
3rd April 2024, 03:31 PM | #2 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 116
|
Quote:
Thanks for the additional info regarding forte. I assumed a high quality blade was made usable again this way after a break. The attached photo shows a piece of the blade, 23.5mm, in the forte, otherwise no seams can be seen on the forte. The blade at the forte is 27.4mm wide and 4.8mm thick, the forte 27.9 and 6mm thick, and at its widest 28mmen 5.2 thick. Regards Marc |
|
3rd April 2024, 03:33 PM | #3 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 116
|
Quote:
|
|
3rd April 2024, 03:41 PM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,742
|
Perhaps another hand hold for what ever reason?. Nice and clean example.
|
3rd April 2024, 05:46 PM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,601
|
There are indeed a lot of takouba with “sandwich” reinforcements at the forte and I doubt repairs are the main reason. I suspect it was used in cases where the tang may have been too short for it to be peened to the pommel or in some cases even decorative.
|
4th April 2024, 02:33 AM | #6 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,785
|
Teodor, I agree, and it seems these upper blade collars might even be some some sort of decorative or other added element as it seems one of the articles (possibly Reed 1987) even has a term for this...adabal.
It reminds me of the bolsters that descend down upper part of blade on Hindu khanda (basket hilt) and some other Indian swords. On the blade cant see too well but remind me of the 'magical' symbols sometimes on French blades of mid-late 18th c. (Caissagnard,etc) ...possible candidate? Nice example, more modern mounts as per normal traditional ways. |
5th April 2024, 12:22 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 116
|
Thanks everyone for sharing their insights, learned something again.
regards Marc |
|
|