Firangi for comment

[Iain]

Any markings on the blade?

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by Iain

Any markings on the blade?

Hi Iain

Infortunatly there isn"t any marks on the blade.

Best
Cerjak

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

Hi Iain

Infortunatly there isn"t any marks on the blade.

Best
Cerjak

Ok, as you probably know a great number of blades found in this style of mount are trade blades from the 18th century and some from the 17th. At a guess this one would fall into the 18th century category. But I would hope the resident Indian weaponry collectors could give you more information.

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by Iain

Ok, as you probably know a great number of blades found in this style of mount are trade blades from the 18th century and some from the 17th. At a guess this one would fall into the 18th century category. But I would hope the resident Indian weaponry collectors could give you more information.

YES IAIN,

I think it is correct to date this blade around the 18 th century .
best
Cerjak

[ariel]

From the limited photos, this blade does not look European to me. Likely, locally-made Sukhela or Dhup. 18th century is possible, but the first half of the 19th is also probable: 200 years old, give or take. In any case, it is older than my mother-in-law.

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by ariel

From the limited photos, this blade does not look European to me. Likely, locally-made Sukhela or Dhup.

What are the signs that tell you this?

To me, it looks normal for a German-made blade, 17th/18th century. True, these tend to be marked, but often enough at the base of the blade where it might be covered (or might have been polished off). What does one look for to distinguish trade blades from local blades?

[Jens Nordlunde]

Interesting question Timo, and you should have had more attention when you asked it - sorry.

Sometimes the Indian copies of an European blade is so close that you cant be sure, it could be either European or Indian made. At other times it is a bit easier to see, like the way the fullers are made - not quite like the ones on European blades, or if the blades are stamped, the way the stamps have been made. A ricasso could mean an Indian made blade, but although the Europeans made a lot of blades for export to India, these will mostly be Indian blades, but not always.

Sometimes it is quite easy to say, but not always - especially not on photos.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Timo Nieminen

What does one look for to distinguish trade blades from local blades?

Some questions just can not be accurately answered, here is a very similar firangi, very old with no markings compared to Cerjaks firangi, how can one know if the blade was European or a locally made copy unless the blade was wootz, the lack or addition of markings does not tell us anything for sure.