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#1 | ||
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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Outstanding!! I just received email from another gentleman Nandu. I too would agree it is an armoury number since you both had drawn the same conclusion, Nandu, not knowing swords referred to it as a catalogue number. He too came up with "ri" though??? I quote; "It reads as if some catalog number rI. de: pa: naM: 19 / 130 The 130 could be extended as wiped OM but may be a stretch. The last naM is for number. It could be 130 or 137 as the the circle for zero is not complete. It is hard to guess what is means. The text is in Devanagari script so is less likely from South of India unless it is from Tanjavur or places near Bombay." Very interesting that you both indicate "ri" although you think it is a long shot. Bhushan, I guess from your reference to the cresent mark may dismiss Nandu's "OM" notation? Quote:
So many questions. Many thanks Gav |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Nothern Mexico
Posts: 458
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Congratulations for your purchase, Gav. I hope to see soon many pictures of your sousson pata. If you donīt mind, I will ask for measures and weight. I dream (vainly) of having a sword of this kind.
Regards Gonzalo |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: India
Posts: 77
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Hi,
I'm not sure what the letters stand for; looks more like an abbreviation or an initial of something. However i believe that the "Num" indicates that this inventory number must have been "punched" in the last century. Earlier the Inidan armouries did not use such a convention. Also "Num" stands for "Number" which is now widely used across India in all languages; this wasnt the case earlier. Regards, Bhushan |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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Thanks again Bhushan;
How do you think this "stamping" of the code came about? I'd say the weapon is a lot older than the last hundred years, but how old I honestly have no idea as to an approx time period. I think images when they come to hand will certainly help. Does anyone have any insight in to the comings and goings of the Sosun Patta in a historical time line as such, when they first appeared as a Sosun Patta and when the were last seen in active service? I also wonder about the damascus steel seen in the image above, would it be considered birds eye damascus? Thanks again. Gav Last edited by freebooter; 16th June 2009 at 09:19 AM. |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 1,083
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Am looking forward to complete pictures of the sword and better detailed pics of the blade and the pattern. From what we can see in the pic provided, the blade is of pattern welded steel. I would not classify it as a bird's eye pattern as the circular patterns we see are much more elongated than what you typically see associated with the bird's eye pattern. That pattern the circular patterns are much tighter and in closer proximation that what is pictured. However, the pattern shown does show promise to being an active pattern weld probably with the circular patterns throughout the central portion of the blade and I would guess some wavy, longitudinal laminations along the edge and possibly along the spine.
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#6 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,836
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Thank you so much Rick for your insight on the metallurgy of this fascinating piece! I am always amazed at your astute eye in discerning the sometimes very intricate detail in these blade patterns.
I am hoping this information will help in trying to assess the likely provenance of this sword, which has a hilt quite unusual...really looking forward to seeing more on it when it arrives in Gav's lair!!!! ![]() All the best, Jim |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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It has been some time, images as promised, keeper keeper keeper!!!
http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s085_full.html I absolutely love this sword and I would have loved to have bought Artzi's Wootz example he recently parted with, it seemed to be of similar form in the blade. The Sosun is my fav by far, and as a favorite it exceeds even the rarest of Chinese weapons I have in my collection and that is a big call for me. Gav Last edited by freebooter; 28th September 2009 at 01:28 AM. |
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