Takouba with a Potentially Older Blade

Iain · 31st December 2025, 11:03 AM

A nice example almost certainly from Solingen. I'd stick with a 17th century dating. The clean condition is to be expected in a sword in later mounts, these blades were treasured, remounted, reground and maintained for centuries in relatively dry arid conditions. I've handled multiple blades of exactly this style and you'll be able to tell in the hand pretty easily from the steal quality if it's European.

Definitely hot struck blade marks meaning they were not native additions. Latten is also correct for the period, sometimes marks were filled locally but that was done with molten copper usually and a solid 'fill' rather than European latten work.

A nice solid sword and a good example of how these old blades kept being used and remounted.

TVV · 31st December 2025, 07:00 PM

Thank you Ian and Iain, much appreciated

Patterson25 · 31st December 2025, 07:21 PM

Very nice 17th-century blade, congrats!
I think you’re being a bit pessimistic; I would date the hilt to the early 20th century, around the 1930s.
There are perpendicular marks on the ricasso, could this be a sandwich-bladed takouba from the 18th or 19th century that was later remounted in the 20th century?

31st December 2025, 11:03 AM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,720	A nice example almost certainly from Solingen. I'd stick with a 17th century dating. The clean condition is to be expected in a sword in later mounts, these blades were treasured, remounted, reground and maintained for centuries in relatively dry arid conditions. I've handled multiple blades of exactly this style and you'll be able to tell in the hand pretty easily from the steal quality if it's European. Definitely hot struck blade marks meaning they were not native additions. Latten is also correct for the period, sometimes marks were filled locally but that was done with molten copper usually and a solid 'fill' rather than European latten work. A nice solid sword and a good example of how these old blades kept being used and remounted.

31st December 2025, 07:00 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,749	Thank you Ian and Iain, much appreciated

31st December 2025, 07:21 PM	#3
Patterson25 Member Join Date: Oct 2025 Posts: 10	Very nice 17th-century blade, congrats! I think you’re being a bit pessimistic; I would date the hilt to the early 20th century, around the 1930s. There are perpendicular marks on the ricasso, could this be a sandwich-bladed takouba from the 18th or 19th century that was later remounted in the 20th century?