Scottish Broad Sword

corrado26 · 23rd December 2019, 01:49 PM

Got this morning the sword in the fotos. It has in the fuller on both sides of its blade the letters "- I N - M I N I -". Does anyone have an idea what this could stand for?
Regards
corrado26

Victrix · 23rd December 2019, 02:32 PM

Beautiful sword Corrado. Santa must have arrived early in your parts of the world.

Typically it’s a Latin motto or quote which is continued on the other side of the blade. I’m unable to guess which one.

corrado26 · 23rd December 2019, 03:23 PM

On both sides of the blade is the same lettering!

Victrix · 23rd December 2019, 04:42 PM

OK. As I understand it the blades could typically have a family motto or some Latin quote on it. I guess it could have been abbreviated. I have a schiavona with a not too dissimilar blade which has half a Latin motto on each side of the blade.

Alternatively, I guess the text could represent a prayer like (I)N (N)OMINE...but not sure what MINI would stand for. It’s not a palindrome but not far off.

corrado26 · 25th December 2019, 08:31 AM

Is there really no idea what this "NI - MINI" could stand for?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 25th December 2019, 02:30 PM

This is a long and ongoing puzzle on sword blades...

Inlays on blades were nothing new in the 12th century. For centuries before, the Ulfberht and Ingelrii sword firms had been marking their products with their names inlayed along the fuller, as had other smiths. In the 11th century, the type X swords began to show a distinction in their decoration – while one side of the sword still bears the maker’s name, the other was inlayed with a religious inscription. The most common was “INNOMINEDOMINI” (“In the name of God”), although this is often misspelled.

Please see ..https://issuu.com/horsebackarchers/d...armour_from_pr and this is one of those open books available to read on line... thus Oakeshott can be read and at chapter 12 there is a lot of detail on the latin inscription noted here.

dralin23 · 24th January 2020, 08:28 AM

hello,
i noticed that an nearby similar marked blade was here discussed.
i show these in an indian sword mounted blade also in an other thread here.
but it is very intresting to see that these letters was also stitched in these basket hilted sword.
in my sword blade are the letters - IHN- MINI- and than was an running wolve but in thee wrong direction at the blade...
i asked me since some weeks how was it read and what is the sinn of these letters.
i asked in the solingen sword museum in the hope that they could help me but i received only a short answer that it is an german blade from the 17. th. ct. nothing else.
now i hope that i could learn something more about it with your opinions.

thank you!!

fernando · 24th January 2020, 10:56 AM

Dralin, the answer to your question is found above in post #14. Also you may find some additional comments in your OTHER POST in THE EARLY MAKERS TRADE MARKS thread.

25th December 2019, 02:30 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	This is a long and ongoing puzzle on sword blades... Inlays on blades were nothing new in the 12th century. For centuries before, the Ulfberht and Ingelrii sword firms had been marking their products with their names inlayed along the fuller, as had other smiths. In the 11th century, the type X swords began to show a distinction in their decoration – while one side of the sword still bears the maker’s name, the other was inlayed with a religious inscription. The most common was “INNOMINEDOMINI” (“In the name of God”), although this is often misspelled. Please see ..https://issuu.com/horsebackarchers/d...armour_from_pr and this is one of those open books available to read on line... thus Oakeshott can be read and at chapter 12 there is a lot of detail on the latin inscription noted here. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 25th December 2019 at 02:47 PM.

24th January 2020, 08:28 AM	#7
dralin23 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 194	an other pata sword with an marked Blade hello, i noticed that an nearby similar marked blade was here discussed. i show these in an indian sword mounted blade also in an other thread here. but it is very intresting to see that these letters was also stitched in these basket hilted sword. in my sword blade are the letters - IHN- MINI- and than was an running wolve but in thee wrong direction at the blade... i asked me since some weeks how was it read and what is the sinn of these letters. i asked in the solingen sword museum in the hope that they could help me but i received only a short answer that it is an german blade from the 17. th. ct. nothing else. now i hope that i could learn something more about it with your opinions. thank you!! Attached Images

23rd December 2019, 01:49 PM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Scottish Broad Sword Got this morning the sword in the fotos. It has in the fuller on both sides of its blade the letters "- I N - M I N I -". Does anyone have an idea what this could stand for? Regards corrado26 Attached Images

23rd December 2019, 02:32 PM	#2
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 704	Beautiful sword Corrado. Santa must have arrived early in your parts of the world. Typically it’s a Latin motto or quote which is continued on the other side of the blade. I’m unable to guess which one.

23rd December 2019, 03:23 PM	#3
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	On both sides of the blade is the same lettering!

23rd December 2019, 04:42 PM	#4
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 704	OK. As I understand it the blades could typically have a family motto or some Latin quote on it. I guess it could have been abbreviated. I have a schiavona with a not too dissimilar blade which has half a Latin motto on each side of the blade. Alternatively, I guess the text could represent a prayer like (I)N (N)OMINE...but not sure what MINI would stand for. It’s not a palindrome but not far off.

25th December 2019, 08:31 AM	#5
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Is there really no idea what this "NI - MINI" could stand for?

24th January 2020, 10:56 AM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Dralin, the answer to your question is found above in post #14. Also you may find some additional comments in your OTHER POST in THE EARLY MAKERS TRADE MARKS thread.