Scottish Broad Sword

[Victrix]

OK. As I understand it the blades could typically have a family motto or some Latin quote on it. I guess it could have been abbreviated. I have a schiavona with a not too dissimilar blade which has half a Latin motto on each side of the blade.

Alternatively, I guess the text could represent a prayer like (I)N (N)OMINE...but not sure what MINI would stand for. It’s not a palindrome but not far off.

[corrado26]

Is there really no idea what this "NI - MINI" could stand for?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This is a long and ongoing puzzle on sword blades...

Inlays on blades were nothing new in the 12th century. For centuries before, the Ulfberht and Ingelrii sword firms had been marking their products with their names inlayed along the fuller, as had other smiths. In the 11th century, the type X swords began to show a distinction in their decoration – while one side of the sword still bears the maker’s name, the other was inlayed with a religious inscription. The most common was “INNOMINEDOMINI” (“In the name of God”), although this is often misspelled.

Please see ..https://issuu.com/horsebackarchers/d...armour_from_pr and this is one of those open books available to read on line... thus Oakeshott can be read and at chapter 12 there is a lot of detail on the latin inscription noted here.

[corrado26]

Many, many thanks, I knew that I get help from here. The problem is now to date this blade. Is it really so much older than the hilt?
corrado26

[Battara]

What beautiful condition!

My question: is this Scottish or actually English? The top of the hilt looks more English to me.

[M ELEY]

My vote is Scottish. The English pommels were still more 'bun-shaped'. Also, from the style of the basket, this appears post-Rebellion, so many of the Scottish swords of the next period (1770's on) were essentially Scottish troops serving the English, when the basket patterns began to look more 'English' in style. Beautiful basket!

[Battara]

Thanks Mark for that illumination.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

My vote is Scottish. The English pommels were still more 'bun-shaped'. Also, from the style of the basket, this appears post-Rebellion, so many of the Scottish swords of the next period (1770's on) were essentially Scottish troops serving the English, when the basket patterns began to look more 'English' in style. Beautiful basket!

Spot on Cap'n!
Scottish hilts had the open furrow or ring around the pommel where the arms of the guard joined, while English typically used screws. Also, the English hilts were more 'workman' like without the pierced designs, which were often regarded as Jacobite symbols though there is no clear definition of what these were specifically.
The 'ram horns' ( a term only used by Mazansky as far as most regard) would not be on an English hilt.
As you have noted, 'Scottish' designed hilts were still produced in the 'garrison' towns post Rebellion (after 1746) Primarily Glasgow and by Scottish hammermen for the forces of Scottish units now in the British army.

Regiments such as the Royal Scots Greys still used Scottish style hilts, while others used the less Scottish styles with plain plates and there were the types for Black Watch made in Birmingham.

The brisk trade of importing blades from Solingen remained key through the 18th century,and many of the blades remained in circulation for many years.

As far as I have known on the inscription on the blade here, it may be a corruption or cognate of Latin ' in mind', but cannot recall the exact details. It seems like German piecing of a phrase.

As always, I would defer to the real experts here on these, Eljay and Cathey!

[corrado26]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

“INNOMINEDOMINI” (“In the name of God”),

Ibrahijm, I think you got it: “INNOMINEDOMINI” should be the solution.
Thanks a lot
corrado26

[Jens Nordlunde]

Ciomments speared the readers:-)