French (?) sword with strange number

corrado26 · 16th May 2018, 11:01 AM

I have in my collection a what I think French sword that has on both sides of its blade the number "1414". It is certainly not a date as the sword and the blade are probably from the 1720s, but what is this "1414"?

RobertGuy · 16th May 2018, 11:15 AM

I think the general opinion is that inscriptions 1414 are talismanic. Nobody seems quite sure of the meaning but it is certainly not a date.

kronckew · 16th May 2018, 11:54 AM

A Walloon sword with a Passau blade marked with the talisman 1414, again meaning unknown by the owner who sold it (not mine).

canos · 16th May 2018, 05:30 PM

An interesting explanation can be found in:
ARMES BLANCHES - SYMBOLISME, MARQUAGES, FOURBISSEURS, MANUFACTURES / Jean LHOSTE, Jean-Jacques BUIGNE / 3e impression / page
107 ff.

kronckew · 16th May 2018, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canos

An interesting explanation can be found in:
ARMES BLANCHES - SYMBOLISME, MARQUAGES, FOURBISSEURS, MANUFACTURES / Jean LHOSTE, Jean-Jacques BUIGNE / 3e impression / page
107 ff.

Can you please tell us what it is, preferably in English, as many of us a). do not speak French and b). do not have access to that book? Thanks.

fernando · 16th May 2018, 08:26 PM

Interesting that this talismanic number was still engraved on blades as late as in 1720. It was profusely marked in Passau blades as early as in the 16th century, if not before. Quoting some source, this magic number was composed with multiples and combinations of the number 7, in a mode to plea for divine help (quote) in all directions, when unsheathing the sword. But most probably the source mentioned by canos has a different interpretation, which we would like to know of.

canos · 16th May 2018, 09:09 PM

In conclusion it can said that for the inscription 1414 no exact signification can be found inspire of various attempts of interpretation. The most probable presumption is that the inscription engraved by the armourer was quite mysterious and was only known by the armourer himself. It was probably meant to offer some kind of protection, perhaps even a devine one.
" 1 4 1 4 " is a real talisman, undoutedly of biblical origin.

16th May 2018, 11:01 AM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	French (?) sword with strange number I have in my collection a what I think French sword that has on both sides of its blade the number "1414". It is certainly not a date as the sword and the blade are probably from the 1720s, but what is this "1414"? Attached Images

16th May 2018, 11:54 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	A Walloon sword with a Passau blade marked with the talisman 1414, again meaning unknown by the owner who sold it (not mine). Attached Images

16th May 2018, 05:30 PM	#4
canos Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 28	1 4 1 4 An interesting explanation can be found in: ARMES BLANCHES - SYMBOLISME, MARQUAGES, FOURBISSEURS, MANUFACTURES / Jean LHOSTE, Jean-Jacques BUIGNE / 3e impression / page 107 ff.

16th May 2018, 09:09 PM	#7
canos Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 28	Conclusion " 1414 " In conclusion it can said that for the inscription 1414 no exact signification can be found inspire of various attempts of interpretation. The most probable presumption is that the inscription engraved by the armourer was quite mysterious and was only known by the armourer himself. It was probably meant to offer some kind of protection, perhaps even a devine one. " 1 4 1 4 " is a real talisman, undoutedly of biblical origin.

16th May 2018, 11:15 AM	#2
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	I think the general opinion is that inscriptions 1414 are talismanic. Nobody seems quite sure of the meaning but it is certainly not a date.

16th May 2018, 08:26 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Interesting that this talismanic number was still engraved on blades as late as in 1720. It was profusely marked in Passau blades as early as in the 16th century, if not before. Quoting some source, this magic number was composed with multiples and combinations of the number 7, in a mode to plea for divine help (quote) in all directions, when unsheathing the sword. But most probably the source mentioned by canos has a different interpretation, which we would like to know of.