Dime el Aterro

M ELEY · 11th September 2014, 02:59 AM

Awhile back, I had a Spanish broadsword 18th c. with the classic 6-sided Spanish blade with double fullers marked, in Spanish, with the traditional logo 'Do not draw me without reason, do not sheath me without honor.' made for the Spanish market, the balde was actually German, marked 'Solingen'. I know Spanish steel was the finest in the world, but I assume colonial items destined to Spanish ports and beyond were not so picky. Could this blade be German-made and the saying be in line, although somewhat more threatening, to the typical motto above? It would explain why the Spanish translation isn't spot-on (being from an outside source). We do know many German blades went to the Middle East and Africa. Just a very big guess-

Also, forgot to mention on that awesome backsword, many of the Scottish and English broadsword blades of the 18th c. were German-made. I've seen many baskethilts marked Solingen on the blade and, of course, we have that whole Houndslow School thing going on in the U.K.

fernando · 12th September 2014, 05:07 PM

German blades ... why not ?
The Spanish possibility starts to evade.
However after a few thoughts, the word composition is so otherwise that i would not see it as a corruption or mispelling of a Spanish (Castillian) sentence, but a smith fantasy.
The odd separation, the wrong conjugation, the so unusual & and all that.
... all these "Aterro" variations coming from the same spot, naturaly.

fernando · 17th September 2014, 07:03 PM

I have received the last of three advices i requested from Spanish sword connoisseurs.
Again the Spanish origin for these blades was a possibility put aside.
A different approach was instead brought to consideration, as being the inverted position, that is, Spanish blades being imported from Germany, when home production did not suffice the needs, and a clumsy conversion of a German text to Spanish.
Well, a new perspective

.

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M ELEY · 18th September 2014, 02:43 AM

I was guessing. Glad to have more knowledgible folks support the possibility. Now, what is the connection with a German-made, Spanish style blade ending up on an East Indain sword? Trade routes??

17th September 2014, 07:03 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I have received the last of three advices i requested from Spanish sword connoisseurs. Again the Spanish origin for these blades was a possibility put aside. A different approach was instead brought to consideration, as being the inverted position, that is, Spanish blades being imported from Germany, when home production did not suffice the needs, and a clumsy conversion of a German text to Spanish. Well, a new perspective . . Last edited by fernando; 17th September 2014 at 07:34 PM. Reason: spell

11th September 2014, 02:59 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,159	Awhile back, I had a Spanish broadsword 18th c. with the classic 6-sided Spanish blade with double fullers marked, in Spanish, with the traditional logo 'Do not draw me without reason, do not sheath me without honor.' made for the Spanish market, the balde was actually German, marked 'Solingen'. I know Spanish steel was the finest in the world, but I assume colonial items destined to Spanish ports and beyond were not so picky. Could this blade be German-made and the saying be in line, although somewhat more threatening, to the typical motto above? It would explain why the Spanish translation isn't spot-on (being from an outside source). We do know many German blades went to the Middle East and Africa. Just a very big guess- Also, forgot to mention on that awesome backsword, many of the Scottish and English broadsword blades of the 18th c. were German-made. I've seen many baskethilts marked Solingen on the blade and, of course, we have that whole Houndslow School thing going on in the U.K.

12th September 2014, 05:07 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	German blades ... why not ? The Spanish possibility starts to evade. However after a few thoughts, the word composition is so otherwise that i would not see it as a corruption or mispelling of a Spanish (Castillian) sentence, but a smith fantasy. The odd separation, the wrong conjugation, the so unusual & and all that. ... all these "Aterro" variations coming from the same spot, naturaly.

18th September 2014, 02:43 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,159	I was guessing. Glad to have more knowledgible folks support the possibility. Now, what is the connection with a German-made, Spanish style blade ending up on an East Indain sword? Trade routes??