The Black Saber
 

Gentlefolk, while I feel I should apologize for not posting here often,
I do like coming here to view arms and armor from different cultures
and countries. For the first time I feel I have something I would like
to share with you all, inviting your comments, opinions, and your
observations.

Please allow me to present The Black Saber, a sword made
by Paolo Abrera, the webpage designed and put together by
Antonio CeJunior ...

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...shedsaber1.jpg

And Antonio's page ...

http://www.arscives.com/bladesign/blacksaber.htm

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...shedsaber2.jpg

Very well done! Can I ask you a few questions? First what material is the cross guard and knuckle guard made of? Is there any distal taper running down the spine towards the tip? Lastly what does the sword weigh minus the scabbard?



Lew

I only have three words to say... WOW! Nice sword. I bid (very weakly) on a Polish sword, quite similar to this one, on ebay, several years ago. Didn't even come close! M.P.

Maybe Dniester Cossack sabre ? Superb piece.

Regards,

Martin

Hi Matthew,
I'm glad you visit us often, and it is nice to see your post. While I am not particularly inclined toward modern reproductions of weapons, I cannot resist saying this is an absolutely breathtaking piece of work ! It is obvious that Mr. Abrera does meticulous research on the weapons he produces, as from what I can see the detail here is remarkable.

Since our primary objective here is the study and identification of authentic antique weapons, it would really be interesting to know more on the history of the sword (s) this piece was based on, and how they received the sobriquet 'black sabres'.

Mr. CeJuniors web page is also beautifully done, and overall between that and the weapon itself extremely appealing....true artwork !

All best regards,
Jim

There was never a Dniester Cossack Host. In 1787 part of Zaporozhian Cossacks had a short-lived sojourn in Southern Ukraine, but by 1790 they were all relocated to North Caucasus, Kuban area and named Black Sea Cossacks.

The saber is a curious mix of Turkish Pala blade, Hungarian/Polish early variant of a handguard and Polish thumb ring. Looks powerful and vicious, but..... I am with Jim: no interest in modern recreations.

BEAUTIFUL WORKMANSHIP !! IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE WEAPON.
WHILE I DO NOT PERSONALLY COLLECT THE NEWER CREATIONS EITHER, I DO APPRECIATE AND ENJOY SEEING THEM. THE REASON BEING THE HISTORY AND TRIBAL SOCIETYS PLAY A VERY BIG PART IN MY INTREST IN COLLECTING WHAT I DO.
I AM GLAD THAT THERE ARE STILL THOSE WHO HAVE THE SKILL AND DESIRE TO CREATE WEAPONS THAT HAVE THE ACTUAL BALANCE, TEMPER AND STRENGTHS NECESSARY FOR BATTLE IF NEED BE. I AM ALSO GLAD THERE ARE THOSE WHO COLLECT IN THIS FIELD SO THESE ARTISTS CAN STAY AT THE FORGE AND GAIN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO CREATE THESE MODERN MASTERPIECES. I SUSPECT SOME OF THE VERY BEST SWORDS EVER MADE MAY BE THOSE MADE WITHIN MY LIFETIME. THE REASON FOR THIS MAY BE THE MODERN RESOURCES AVAILABLE NOW AS WELL AS ALL THE KNOWLEGE THAT WAS GAINED IN THE PAST AND HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN. IN THE PAST ALL TECKNIQUE WOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT SECRET SO ONE SHOP MIGHT BE VERY GOOD AT ONE THING BUT LACKING IN OTHERS. KNOWLEGE IS SHARED MORE NOW AND OLDER SECRET TECKNIQUES ARE OFTEN AVAILABLE KNOWLEGE TODAY. TODAYS SMITHS STILL DO SEARCH FOR SOME OF THE LOST TECKNIQUES TODAY BUT OFTEN MAKE UP THEIR OWN NEW TECKNIQUES AS A RESULT. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK :D

Very nice sword.

Amazingly strong, vicious but also elegant appearance.

And of course, nice to see that there are still people around that are willing and able to create such beautifull weapons with their own hands.

I assume that part of the fascination for old weapons may also be the fascination for the craftmanship. I know it is part of mine.

Wonderfull to read that the curvature was formed by forging the edge.

Matthew, is that the sabre you have always dreamed of owning ? :)
Great !!

Hello, Lew ... Thankyou for your comment and questions :

The material of the cross-guard / knuckle guard is iron. Paolo's
description of creating the patina on the hilt and fittings :

" The patina on the "weathered" fittings are a simple finish often used by blacksmiths on forged pieces. The pieces are simply blackened by oxidizing them in the forge then while hot, allowing linseed oil to burn on the surface then rub it back with some fine abrasives when cool. Some creative wear and tear treatments are necessary of course to take the "new" off the nice shiny fittings... "

The spine does tape from 5/8s of an inch to 3/8s of an inch.

And I can only estimate the weight of the saber minus the scabbard, Lew,
at a robust and healthy 3 pounds.

Hi, MP, The Black Saber is the conclusion of a 4-year quest to
either find a historical piece; and it would have had to strike me as a
sword I could not do without, if you follow me. OR commission a smith
to make the blade.

I will explain, a bit later on I think, how I lucked into Paolo's project.

Hi Jim, thankyou for your kind words and comments. One reason I have
done more looking and reading as opposed to posting is that I am neither
historian nor collector of authentic antique weapons. But there should be
no question that The Black Saber is a product of researching -- as
best I could, and I think as best Paolo could --a very unique sword with
what I personally believe the legendary status similar to, for instance,
the Japanese sword.

I know there will be many who disagree, and my very early interest in
swords began with looking at Japanese blades. But let me state once
again, I am no expert. It seems different cultures and societies have
and often still do embrace a particular sword in a particular way. The
Polish War Saber I wanted to embrace, however, would not in
my mind be the heavily decorated sword one might see in a museum
or collection. On the contrary, even though it would be -- again, in
my mind -- of museum-quality, it would be the sword of a common
soldier; less delicate and maybe less agile, but certainly powerful in
character and personality.

My early interest in the Polish Hussar Saber was actually spurred
on by a reproduction found in another forum. From that point I began
looking for more information and photographs, and came to this :

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...szabla03-1.jpg

Maybe some of you are much more familiar with W. Zablocki's legendary
book than I, but I began finding some of the drawings online, as well as
a few discussions. One drawing that Paolo used to inspire the blade ...

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...iaszabla04.jpg

When we chose to name the project The Black Saber it was after
an email back-n-forth. Paolo brought up the term, and it quickly reminded
me of something I had read elsewhere. I wish I had more information as to
the nickname, but from what I gather it came to be as a result of the black
color scheme of the leather, fittings, hilt, and grip of the entire package.
So Paolo and I agreed it would have blackened details, and a black leather
covered grip and scabbard.

I can tell you, as I sit here typing, when I look over to where the saber
sits sheathed on its stand, there seems to be a " black aura " if you will,
embracing the sword.

Nevertheless, Ariel, your observations agree with Paolo's inspiration
for delivering a saber that bespoke more than just a single time period,
but kinda' embraced the legendary sword's evolution.

A picture of my own ... B-)

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...at11709003.jpg

Hi Rick ... hmmm, you must remember me from somewhere else, but
yes ! The Black Saber is most definitely the sword I have been
hunting down for years now. It is without a doubt the crown jewel in
my small collection. Thankyou !

And to Asomostif, Vandoo, Martin, and Trench ... Thankyou for your
comments. I suspect Paolo is probably looking in and am sure he is
enjoying the discourse, as I know I am ...

Your forum . ;) :D
How could I forget such passion . :D

The entire hilt including the thumb ring is very close to a Polish hilt of the 17th century.
Fitting Turkish blades into Polish & Magyar sabers was not uncommon; similar blades of European manufacture do also exist.

Thankyou for your observation !

You've hit on something I've read as well. At the back of my brain pan
in all of this has been a growing interest in which direction the evolution
of the saber came from. Is it commonly held that the blade-styles
evolved from the east westward ?

Here's another drawing -- I believe of a sword that existed or does
exist -- that looks quaintly familiar; messaged to me AFTER The Black
Saber was made and shipped to me ...

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r.../HisSaber1.jpg