Mark on sword

Lansquenet59 · 24th October 2023, 10:17 AM

Hello,

a friend sent me this photo asking me if this mark is known?

fernando · 24th October 2023, 02:03 PM

You know you should post a picture of the whole sword !

corrado26 · 24th October 2023, 04:30 PM

I think this is a sign with "7", the sign of luck or kabalism.

Seven corresponds to the days of the week, the degrees of perfection, the celestial degrees, the branches of the cosmic and sacrificial tree of shamanism. It is still the totality of the celestial dwellings, of the spiritual energies. Among the Egyptians, 7 symbolizes eternal life. Among the Greeks it is on the seventh day of the month that the cult of Apollo is celebrated. The Hesperides are seven, Niobe has seven daughters and seven sons. Hippocrates is said to have said: "The number 7, by its hidden virtues, maintains all things in being; it provides life and movement; it influences even celestial beings”.

fernando · 24th October 2023, 07:34 PM

Too fast Udo

. Still we need Thomas to show us the whole piece, as required for the records.

Jim McDougall · 24th October 2023, 07:36 PM

As Fernando notes, a blind image of a mark alone without the context of the weapon it is difficult to determine as far as significance or meaning. If we can see the nationality, period or type of weapon, it might help explain why the mark is there.
There are of course distinct associations with this mark to magical/occult symbols which though certainly are the realm of these arcane subjects, and hard to identify as similar or like symbols seem to have different meanings in different areas.

I am not sure which area this particular mark might be in, but as noted the symbol for the number seven is a possible instance of talismanic device.
Many symbols are deemed Cabalistic , but actually they are often actually magic or alchemical symbols (this one actually also represents alum in chemical parlance), "The Book of Signs"Rudolf Koch, 1930". While alchemy was of course a type of psuedo science forerunning actual chemistry etc. it was closely aligned with astrology and supersitions, so actual meanings of symbols and allegories are pretty subjective.

It seems often these kinds of singular markings on blades are mistaken by many arms enthusiasts as being 'makers marks'. While some makers did perhaps use some degree of such symbolism incorporated into their marks, these singular marks usually stand alone with other meanings, now unknown.
These kinds of arcane marks often were used by stonemasons in medieval times and often derived from even earlier Byzantine symbols.

What we can be pretty sure of is that this is not a makers mark, but some sort of talismanic or perhaps implied quality imbuement in at this point, entirely unknown context.

Lansquenet59 · 25th October 2023, 10:11 PM

I will ask him for more photos, yes you are right

24th October 2023, 10:17 AM	#1
Lansquenet59 Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: France Posts: 132	Mark on sword Hello, a friend sent me this photo asking me if this mark is known? Attached Images

24th October 2023, 02:03 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	You know you should post a picture of the whole sword !

24th October 2023, 04:30 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,207	I think this is a sign with "7", the sign of luck or kabalism. Seven corresponds to the days of the week, the degrees of perfection, the celestial degrees, the branches of the cosmic and sacrificial tree of shamanism. It is still the totality of the celestial dwellings, of the spiritual energies. Among the Egyptians, 7 symbolizes eternal life. Among the Greeks it is on the seventh day of the month that the cult of Apollo is celebrated. The Hesperides are seven, Niobe has seven daughters and seven sons. Hippocrates is said to have said: "The number 7, by its hidden virtues, maintains all things in being; it provides life and movement; it influences even celestial beings”.

24th October 2023, 07:34 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Too fast Udo . Still we need Thomas to show us the whole piece, as required for the records.

24th October 2023, 07:36 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	As Fernando notes, a blind image of a mark alone without the context of the weapon it is difficult to determine as far as significance or meaning. If we can see the nationality, period or type of weapon, it might help explain why the mark is there. There are of course distinct associations with this mark to magical/occult symbols which though certainly are the realm of these arcane subjects, and hard to identify as similar or like symbols seem to have different meanings in different areas. I am not sure which area this particular mark might be in, but as noted the symbol for the number seven is a possible instance of talismanic device. Many symbols are deemed Cabalistic , but actually they are often actually magic or alchemical symbols (this one actually also represents alum in chemical parlance), "The Book of Signs"Rudolf Koch, 1930". While alchemy was of course a type of psuedo science forerunning actual chemistry etc. it was closely aligned with astrology and supersitions, so actual meanings of symbols and allegories are pretty subjective. It seems often these kinds of singular markings on blades are mistaken by many arms enthusiasts as being 'makers marks'. While some makers did perhaps use some degree of such symbolism incorporated into their marks, these singular marks usually stand alone with other meanings, now unknown. These kinds of arcane marks often were used by stonemasons in medieval times and often derived from even earlier Byzantine symbols. What we can be pretty sure of is that this is not a makers mark, but some sort of talismanic or perhaps implied quality imbuement in at this point, entirely unknown context.

25th October 2023, 10:11 PM	#6
Lansquenet59 Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: France Posts: 132	I will ask him for more photos, yes you are right