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27th October 2006, 02:47 AM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 13
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Flavio,
Beautiful firangi. That is some interesting decoration on the hilt. There is something fascinating about old European blades being used on an Indian or Persian sword. Were these blades made in Europe specifically for trading with other countries or are they more chance acquisitions that were re-hilted to be more convenient and familiar? Is there any general way to determine the age or origin of the european blades used in these swords? For example, are there records of the companies that made or traded them, the quantites, etc? John |
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27th October 2006, 02:51 AM
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#2 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Are we sure the blade is European? Locals everywhere put "European" markings, often mangled ones, on their blades. Likely, a matter of upping the price.
I am wondering whether squiggly markings here are not a local rendition of the "running wolf".... |
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27th October 2006, 04:02 PM
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#3 | |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
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Quote:
Thank you Lew and John  Ariel you mean that this couldn't be a firangi strictu sensu since the blade could be of local production? Running wolf??? What is it? Thanks |
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27th October 2006, 04:29 PM
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#4 | |
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(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Quote:
I took this description from Artzi's site. The name ‘Firangi’ (Foreigner) was given to these swords in the 17 Century, as they were mounted with European (Foreign) blades, which were highly valued. Some blades were locally made in the European style. The blades were mounted on the ‘Khanda’ style hilt usually with the long spike extending from the pommel which allows the use of the sword as a two handed sword. I does not really matter if the blade is locally made or European it is still considered a firangi style sword. You can find kaskara and tulwars with Euro blades that does not make it something else it is still a kaskara or a tulwar. It is very hard to tell the difference between Euro and good quailty local blades Indian smiths were highly skilled at their craft. I understand the semantics here with regard to blade origin but I think after careful study we must consider the general style the determining factor and not where the blade came from. Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 27th October 2006 at 04:57 PM. |
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27th October 2006, 04:59 PM
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#5 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Lew is perfectly correct: no matter what, this sword is a true Firanghi.
Having said that, I still suspect the blade is local: the markings do not correspond to anything European I've seen and look somewhat crudely executed. The " running wolf" is a mark of Passau (later Solingen). Local everywhere in the world imitated it with imagination running wild. Do not take me wrong: the quality of the "local" blade might have been better than the original. Good sword! |
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27th October 2006, 05:57 PM
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#6 | |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
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Quote:
Thank you Lew and Ariel Ariel, no problem at all, and thank you for the explanation on the running wolf
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30th October 2006, 04:22 PM
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#7 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Hi Flavio
,If this is you first firangi, you have chosen well. It is very nice and old as well. I like the blade, but especially I like the hilt, this was not made for parades, it was made for use. The decoration under the guard, is very nice. Imagine what it must have looked like when the decoration was intact. Yes Lew is right, no matter where the blade was made, it is a firangi. Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 30th October 2006 at 04:32 PM. |
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30th October 2006, 04:35 PM
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#8 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
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Hi Jens
, Thank you very much 
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