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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 60
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Not sure about this one, thought it was vintage copy but we'll made, 108cm and well balance, good spring steel blade but thin( africa?) steel. Your thoughts appreciated
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Northern Germany
Posts: 149
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Without diving deep into literature studies you could try to answer the following question for yourself: This seems like a thrust-centric sword, is the blade suitable for thrusting through f.e. mail or sturdy clothing?
The mark is imitating Styrian ones from the late 17th century. |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 60
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No, it's well made but too much spring to pierce mail, blade and resin/ leather construction reminds me of maasai lionspear/ swords and don't think this is a Victorian copy and not quite the quality I've come across, I'm leaning towards someone with good forging skills copying Austrian/ hungarian sword and markings but I could be completely wrong.
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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Victorian (and many modern) copies tended to be heavier, less flexible than actual period swords. And period swords were mostly hand made, and there was no attempt at perfection, they had cosmetic flaws we do not accept in our 'modern' machine world. They were made to be functional.
There are a few fairly recent videos on YouTube by well known swordsmiths and dealers regarding thrusting thru mail, and the swords were surprisingly flexed. Late period swords were not really made for penetrating armour, but for use against lesser men at arms without steel armour. Skallagrim |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 251
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What material is the pommel and guard made of? Also how is the pommel attached?
My first impression of the eyelash stamp is that it is too clean, too sharp. The authentic ones I usually see aren’t as well defined as this one. |
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#6 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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Do you guys have a book called ARMI BIANCHE ITALIANE ?
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 60
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Well I think whoever made this sword had this book! Good pickup Fernando! Handles aged brass and tangs been peen at v of pommel. Yep blades good quality and I'm thinking it's a vintage copy by someone who's got decent forging skills.
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#8 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,871
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Excellent catch Fernando!!!!
Naturally following the 'too good to be true' axiom, it is hard to accurately assess this remarkable example as authentic without hands on handling, and even then there times when even the experts can be wrong. Look for example at the numbers of weapons and armor displayed for generations at the Higgjns Museum in Massachusetts. The addition of that eyelash stamp would reveal an uncanny attention to detail not typically done by artisans creating reproductions of authentic pieces in the Victorian to modern era, at least as far as I have known. The only maker of reproductions I have known well personally, made them so well that he typically placed his own mark strategically so they would not be presented as authentic. However, many dealers unfortunately removed these for obvious reasons. "Armi Bianche Italiene" by Boccia & Coelho (1975) is a relatively obscure book it seems IMO, among the sword collecting community. It is a huge volume, in Italian of course and from the initial release prohibitively expensive. I recall many years ago I reeled at the cost (then). I recall a visit years ago by an author friend who was researching an Italian sword, and gasped when he saw I had this! Naturally this volume in the hands of a skilled deceiver would be most dangerous. If someone was fashioning a recreation for artistic or appreciation purposes, why would such a detail as the mark be necessary? It is truly a dilemma, but most attractive example in any case. |
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#9 | |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,057
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unfortunatly it is not Victorian but a recent reproduction or copy made by an Italian blacksmith, probably made around 2020.
I still saved a photo from Facebook |
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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Interesting, Corneli, but no marking on THAT blade. Maybe someone has a proper reference link to help prove your date comment?
I agree with Jim. |
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#12 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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Well ... what do you know !
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#13 | |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,871
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I had no idea about Mr. Coelho being Portuguese, and how incredible to have a special edition of this very obscure reference (as I have noted).........your copy is a virtual treasure Fernando! |
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#14 | |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 251
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On the face of it there are differences in the guard that indicate that it’s not the same sword, however if its a recent production there’s nothing to say this isn’t one of a series. |
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#15 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 60
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I'm thinking this is same Smith, not upset as bought it under assumption it was a good copy.
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