Has anyone seen anything similar to this sword?

Iain · 23rd June 2011, 10:15 AM

Not sure it is this at all, but the script reminds me of this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Hungarian_script

There are a number of old script forms and alphabets in central Europe, so while it may not be this one I am semi positive it is from the general area.

ariel · 23rd June 2011, 11:59 AM

Agree with Tatiana: the script is definitely not Cyrillic.
There is an eagle on the blade, looking suspiciously like the USA. The inscription confirms it: "E pluribus unum". In short- USA blade, 19-20 century. Who reworked it, and in what style, is a separate question.
The quillon on one side looks somewhat "nabour-ish", isn't it?

fernando · 23rd June 2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

There is an eagle on the blade, looking suspiciously like the USA. The inscription confirms it: "E pluribus unum".

That would be the lower picture, which is another thing ... not the upper one in discussion

tom hyle · 23rd June 2011, 01:43 PM

Wow. What a cool sword.
Note that the guard seems to be shaped as the cuff of a likely ceremonial vestment of some kind. Is there any known gesture, used in religious or lodge practice, perhaps, where one grips one's own left hand in the manner one grips this hilt?
I had a straight Spanish cavalry "saber" with a spine fuller. Beautiful sword. Very rust-pitted, but I sharpened it up for a friend who needed a sword.
Love the spine fuller. Love the peaked spine. I love that spine they do on pesh kabz and salawar yatagans sometimes, where the spine has its own little round-topped midrib......

I love the spine groove....
Is the hilt cast on to the tang on this sword, or how is it attached, if you don't mind answering?

Dmitry · 23rd June 2011, 03:10 PM

The script may resemble the runic characters, but in a way of imitation. I don't think there is any meaning to them in the conventional sense, i.e. these are not abbreviations of anything in the Western vernacular. In other words, they have nothing to do with the abbreviated inscriptions on the Viking period swords, in my opinion.
Here's an additional shot of the blade.
Ceremonial/secret society vestment purpose might be the answer, among other things. The script may represent a societal code of some sort.

fearn · 23rd June 2011, 03:27 PM

I've been poking around in omniglot, which has a number of scripts. I tend to agree that it's magical writing, but I don't know the system. The closest I've been able to find is the "angelic script", but it's not a match.

I suspect it's someone's magical/ritual item. It may have a masonic connection, but I'm not very confident of that, either.

My 0.00002 cents,

F

23rd June 2011, 03:10 PM	#5
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	The script may resemble the runic characters, but in a way of imitation. I don't think there is any meaning to them in the conventional sense, i.e. these are not abbreviations of anything in the Western vernacular. In other words, they have nothing to do with the abbreviated inscriptions on the Viking period swords, in my opinion. Here's an additional shot of the blade. Ceremonial/secret society vestment purpose might be the answer, among other things. The script may represent a societal code of some sort. Attached Images

23rd June 2011, 10:15 AM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Not sure it is this at all, but the script reminds me of this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Hungarian_script There are a number of old script forms and alphabets in central Europe, so while it may not be this one I am semi positive it is from the general area.

23rd June 2011, 11:59 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Agree with Tatiana: the script is definitely not Cyrillic. There is an eagle on the blade, looking suspiciously like the USA. The inscription confirms it: "E pluribus unum". In short- USA blade, 19-20 century. Who reworked it, and in what style, is a separate question. The quillon on one side looks somewhat "nabour-ish", isn't it?

23rd June 2011, 01:43 PM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Wow. What a cool sword. Note that the guard seems to be shaped as the cuff of a likely ceremonial vestment of some kind. Is there any known gesture, used in religious or lodge practice, perhaps, where one grips one's own left hand in the manner one grips this hilt? I had a straight Spanish cavalry "saber" with a spine fuller. Beautiful sword. Very rust-pitted, but I sharpened it up for a friend who needed a sword. Love the spine fuller. Love the peaked spine. I love that spine they do on pesh kabz and salawar yatagans sometimes, where the spine has its own little round-topped midrib...... I love the spine groove.... Is the hilt cast on to the tang on this sword, or how is it attached, if you don't mind answering?

23rd June 2011, 03:27 PM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I've been poking around in omniglot, which has a number of scripts. I tend to agree that it's magical writing, but I don't know the system. The closest I've been able to find is the "angelic script", but it's not a match. I suspect it's someone's magical/ritual item. It may have a masonic connection, but I'm not very confident of that, either. My 0.00002 cents, F