The Black Saber

[Lew]

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

[trenchwarfare]

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.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Maybe Dniester Cossack sabre ? Superb piece.

Regards,

Martin

[ariel]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Maybe Dniester Cossack sabre ? Superb piece.

Regards,

Martin

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.

[VANDOO]

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

[asomotif]

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.

[Rick]

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

[MatthewGMK]

Originally Posted by ariel

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.

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-)

[MatthewGMK]

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

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.

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.

[MatthewGMK]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

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

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.