Very Old Firangi with Rapier blade in need of restoration.

Jim McDougall · 27th November 2007, 09:55 PM

Very, very nice David!!!!
But I would beg you, please show respect for this old warrior! If I was the lucky one owning this piece of history, I would stabilize it (just clean up any active rust with oil), and leave it intact. Its very unusual to see these mounted with rapier blades and especially that appear homogenous. I know that the Mahrattas would often obtain rapier blades from the Portuguese, but typically see the broadsword blades mounted in these khanda hilts.

Just my opinion....but I love these rusty old swords for thier history, and care little for show

There's nothing like reading on a historical period and place and holding one of these, as if its saying "..I know...I was there!!!"

And I well understand the 'Errol Flynn' thing.....its pretty much his fault I got caught up in the 'swords' thing. I'll never forget my dads immortal words as I pursued fencing in school....."...good Jim...something you can always use!" and grumbled more unintelligibly as he stalked off.

Envious regards,
Jim

katana · 27th November 2007, 10:08 PM

Hi Jim,
thank you very much for your reply, I am very pleased

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Just my opinion....but I love these rusty old swords for thier history, and care little for show

There's nothing like reading on a historical period and place and holding one of these, as if its saying "..I know...I was there!!!"

Jim

...I cannot agree more

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

And I well understand the 'Errol Flynn' thing.....its pretty much his fault I got caught up in the 'swords' thing. I'll never forget my dads immortal words as I pursued fencing in school....."...good Jim...something you can always use!" and grumbled more unintelligibly as he stalked off.

Envious regards,
Jim

Kind Regards David

Battara · 27th November 2007, 10:45 PM

Yeah, at this point, I also agree that an attempt at restoration would damage it. Active rust is the only living threat now.......

fernando · 27th November 2007, 11:52 PM

Hi David,
I understand you are only allowed to touch it ... for taking better pictures

That's a chest full of history. Congratulations.
If ever you get fed up of having it ... just tell

Fernando

katana · 28th November 2007, 12:52 PM

Thank you Battara for your opinion

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

That's a chest full of history. Congratulations.
If ever you get fed up of having it ... just tell

Fernando

Hi Fernando ,
if the blade ever tells me it's 'homesick' for Portugal ..... you'll be the first to know ..... but I'll warn you now... I'll probably just 'gag' it and ignore it's pleading

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

NNNNNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiccc cccccccccceeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Gav

tttttttttthhhhhhhaaaaaannnnnnkkkkkksssssss !!!!! , 'touche' Gav

Would anyone know how 17thC Rapier blades were marked ?
When searching 'Firangi' I found an example that was cited as Moghul, the blade was the 'broadsword' type but the hilt had similar features including the 'line' detail on the knuckle guard. Could this be Moghul ?

I am also interested in how this sword would have been used. Do you think the sword technique would be similar to European Rapier use? I wonder whether the wide pommel would limit the wrist action/movement often used to control a rapier. Would a 'main gauche' or small buckler be used in tandem with this sword ?

Regards David

Jens Nordlunde · 28th November 2007, 02:17 PM

Hi David,

Congratulations with your ’new’ khanda, or should I say firangi, as the blade most likely is a European rapier blade as Jim writes. Some would clean it so it looked like the day it was used, finding this more ‘historic’, while others would stop any active rust and let it be at that, keeping the patina as part of its history – I would say it is up to the owner to decide.

To me it looks as if the gild could be new, be course there seems to be rust under the gold – the surface looks very rough. You have the sword in your hand, so you are a better judge than I am – do you think there is rust under the gold?

Fighting, using a sword with a blade of 100 cm, would only have been for the best swordsmen to handle, just like not any swordsman could handle a pata – don’t forget that the blade is 20-30% longer than most Indian blades.

Jens

Jim McDougall · 28th November 2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Thank you Battara for your opinion

Would anyone know how 17thC Rapier blades were marked ?
When searching 'Firangi' I found an example that was cited as Moghul, the blade was the 'broadsword' type but the hilt had similar features including the 'line' detail on the knuckle guard. Could this be Moghul ?

I am also interested in how this sword would have been used. Do you think the sword technique would be similar to European Rapier use? I wonder whether the wide pommel would limit the wrist action/movement often used to control a rapier. Would a 'main gauche' or small buckler be used in tandem with this sword ?

Regards David

Hi David,

I'm very glad you asked this question!!!!!

There happens to be a concurrent thread titled EARLY MAKERS TRADE MARKINGS which we have had open for some time now. The purpose of that thread has been to develop a resource which talks about the many blade markings and inscriptions found on trade early trade blades, which indeed often included rapier blades as your example clearly illustrates.

I have trying to convince the forum that the markings found on European trade blades is an important topic in the study of ethnographic swords and edged weapons, unfortunately the overall interest has seemed less than resounding. I am extremely grateful to the members who have actively participated in the thread thus far, and they have already developed the thread comprehensively as a resource that gives us excellent material on these markings.

What is very exciting about your firangi, which is obviously in original state as mounted, proves that not only were early European blades mounted in swords in India, but more importantly, the thin rapier blades were as well. The questions you have so astutely asked are exactly in line with my contention on the markings thread

We have discussed many times over the years, whether European swordfighting techniques actually influenced Indian swordsmen, or whether they simply used the blades to mount in the swords without particular concerns on the key movements applying to the blade or sword forms. One of the great conundrums has been whether the forefinger was scrolled over the quillon to grip the hilt, as often seen in use of 17th Italian and Spanish rapiers.

I hope you and other readers will visit the thread on markings, and I think you will find many important answers on the markings and inscriptions found on these blades. Using the search will reveal some of the various discussions concerning the swordfighting techniques.

Thank you for posting this important example David, and especially for addressing the key questions associated with these weapons!

All very best regards,
Jim

fernando · 28th November 2007, 07:01 PM

Hi David,
As Jens days, not any man could handle these things.
Concerning their fighting style, while the experts don't post their saying, you may have to consider one of options, in my humble opinnion.
If this were a basic khanda, a two thousand years old hindu weapon, the blade would be straight and single edged, some times with its back reinforced and adorned. The blade shape could widen towards the tip, thus only being efective for thrust if the adversary was not body armoured. Its slashing power, however, was most feared throughout Asia ... one blow could mutilate an arm, armoury included. Remember this is a sort of "bastard" or "hand and half" sword, with that extra spike in the hilt. Such hilt being padded, could absorse the impact. If it were a Firangi with a wide blade, the function could well be the same. But being mounted with a rapier blade, maybe the option could tend, at least partly, to thrust fighting, following the original blade purpose.
On the other hand, those guys didn't use left hand daggers, nor did they go for fencing. When they used a support device, that would be the shield, very often a minuscle one. The Portuguese used to call it "rodela", to remind its round small size.
Concerning the blade marks, it's the usual lottery; some were blank ( maybe most of them ), and others were single or even profusely marked. I would recomend you to check on the thread opened by Jim on this theme
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5453
I hope all i said doesn't sound nonsense

Fernando

27th November 2007, 09:55 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,654	Very, very nice David!!!! But I would beg you, please show respect for this old warrior! If I was the lucky one owning this piece of history, I would stabilize it (just clean up any active rust with oil), and leave it intact. Its very unusual to see these mounted with rapier blades and especially that appear homogenous. I know that the Mahrattas would often obtain rapier blades from the Portuguese, but typically see the broadsword blades mounted in these khanda hilts. Just my opinion....but I love these rusty old swords for thier history, and care little for show There's nothing like reading on a historical period and place and holding one of these, as if its saying "..I know...I was there!!!" And I well understand the 'Errol Flynn' thing.....its pretty much his fault I got caught up in the 'swords' thing. I'll never forget my dads immortal words as I pursued fencing in school....."...good Jim...something you can always use!" and grumbled more unintelligibly as he stalked off. Envious regards, Jim

27th November 2007, 10:45 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,342	Yeah, at this point, I also agree that an attempt at restoration would damage it. Active rust is the only living threat now.......

27th November 2007, 11:52 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi David, I understand you are only allowed to touch it ... for taking better pictures That's a chest full of history. Congratulations. If ever you get fed up of having it ... just tell Fernando

28th November 2007, 02:17 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi David, Congratulations with your ’new’ khanda, or should I say firangi, as the blade most likely is a European rapier blade as Jim writes. Some would clean it so it looked like the day it was used, finding this more ‘historic’, while others would stop any active rust and let it be at that, keeping the patina as part of its history – I would say it is up to the owner to decide. To me it looks as if the gild could be new, be course there seems to be rust under the gold – the surface looks very rough. You have the sword in your hand, so you are a better judge than I am – do you think there is rust under the gold? Fighting, using a sword with a blade of 100 cm, would only have been for the best swordsmen to handle, just like not any swordsman could handle a pata – don’t forget that the blade is 20-30% longer than most Indian blades. Jens

28th November 2007, 07:01 PM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi David, As Jens days, not any man could handle these things. Concerning their fighting style, while the experts don't post their saying, you may have to consider one of options, in my humble opinnion. If this were a basic khanda, a two thousand years old hindu weapon, the blade would be straight and single edged, some times with its back reinforced and adorned. The blade shape could widen towards the tip, thus only being efective for thrust if the adversary was not body armoured. Its slashing power, however, was most feared throughout Asia ... one blow could mutilate an arm, armoury included. Remember this is a sort of "bastard" or "hand and half" sword, with that extra spike in the hilt. Such hilt being padded, could absorse the impact. If it were a Firangi with a wide blade, the function could well be the same. But being mounted with a rapier blade, maybe the option could tend, at least partly, to thrust fighting, following the original blade purpose. On the other hand, those guys didn't use left hand daggers, nor did they go for fencing. When they used a support device, that would be the shield, very often a minuscle one. The Portuguese used to call it "rodela", to remind its round small size. Concerning the blade marks, it's the usual lottery; some were blank ( maybe most of them ), and others were single or even profusely marked. I would recomend you to check on the thread opened by Jim on this theme http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5453 I hope all i said doesn't sound nonsense Fernando