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19th October 2023, 10:20 AM | #1 |
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I got it simply by searching.
Actually I have nothing more to say as I already did in #7 - I have my doubts regarding the blade and age of koftgari(?) on it. It is as far from my area of interest in edged weapons as NP from SP. I asked a question if there is a fuller running across the blade. Now I also would ask, if it is common for Wilkinson swords, where the blade is homogenous to the sword, with no reasons against that fact, to have such an opening at blade/hilt joint. I would also ask, if such a flaw running across the blade is acceptable on a sword blade made by Wilkinson. Is there a possibility this koftgari is recently refurbished or, let's say, repainted, or perhaps, even recently created? I think there is. I do not have a nice story with geographical locations included for it - this sword raises only questions to me. The auction house put it on auction twice, it was bought at the second time, it was sold under the estimate. The auction house did not post a picture of the entire blade, only hilt and the koftgari part. So I repeat - it would be interesting to have more pics of it, particularly of the part where koftgari ends till the point. Last edited by Gustav; 19th October 2023 at 10:46 AM. |
19th October 2023, 10:44 AM | #2 |
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If the sword in question has a serial number (which OP hasn't shared yet), it may be found in the archives
https://www.armsresearch.co.uk/Wilki...n%20Swords.htm Perhaps someone has already purchased this photographic records Incidentally, I have found the auction house ad, since it is a completed auction it should be OK to publish its address https://www.olympiaauctions.com/sale.../view-lot/259/ |
19th October 2023, 11:02 AM | #3 |
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Not my area in anyway but interesting. I think mark where the sword goes into the guard is just worn gilding from the scabbard throat?
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19th October 2023, 03:12 PM | #4 |
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Ah I see what "milandro" is on about. The profile of opening for the blade is wrong for this decorated blade.
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19th October 2023, 03:17 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
It would be most unusual, though, that this would have a cavalry blade since the guard is most positively one for navy ( very prominent anchor). Something may be the matter. There may have been legitimate reasons why this blade is there or fishy ones (you see the navy connection? ) |
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19th October 2023, 03:17 PM | #6 |
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...
Last edited by Gustav; 19th October 2023 at 03:18 PM. Reason: irrelevant after Milandro's post |
19th October 2023, 03:24 PM | #7 |
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Having dismissed the curved sabre blade I have found this I will add the link . 1827
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19th October 2023, 03:29 PM | #8 |
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More stuff here that suggest some variants are around.
https://www.fordemilitaryantiques.co...al-navy-swords |
19th October 2023, 03:33 PM | #9 |
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Yes, Tim, I also thought a reforged pipeback could be the explanation of that strange diagonal fuller, if there is any at all.
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19th October 2023, 03:47 PM | #10 | |
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Also I very much appreciate your forensic analysis of the sword, and explaining your deductions which are most helpful as well as elucidating. With my entries, as more a historian, I do tend to suggest possible historic contexts which might explain the context of these kinds of anomalies, as they are IMO most intriguing so I do tend to create 'stories'. My intent is to present hopefully reasonably plausible circumstances in which the weapon might have been involved. Having noted that, I will say that in accord with your observations on the blade, this is clearly not a Wilkinson blade as seen by the lack of ricasso as well as nature of the fullers which you have been observing. Regarding the questions of serial numbers on Wilkinson swords, as I understand these are typically placed on the spine of the blade. Wilkinson began its sword production with those for officers in mid 19th c. with early numbers used in 1850s. It did not become Wilkinson Sword Co. until 1891 so that would suggest the sword was probably post that date. I am not familiar with the name being placed on the locket in this manner. Having noted that, and the fact that Wilkinson always placed its name on the blade, along with the familiar 'Star of David' surround with brass proof plug at center. It is tempting to imagine this arrangement with the Wilkinson on the locket may have been due to the absence of the blade for appropriate placement of the attribution to that company. In this period, there had been ongoing often strained detente between Great Britain and Iran primarily involving strategic geography in the Middle East and Central Asia in which England was trying to protect its 'jewel, India. It would not be hard to imagine such a sword fashioned with such a blade and involved in these 'diplomatic' relations in what was known as 'The Great Game' (Peter Hopkirk's book by that title). So I would shift the 'theater' of my 'story' from Ottoman context (now that we know the script in the koftgari is Persian) in Arabia to more direct contact between Great Britain and Iran, probably around turn of the century. With that, I'll leave the forensics to the experts. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 19th October 2023 at 04:11 PM. |
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19th October 2023, 05:08 PM | #11 | |
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Quote:
This made me look more closely at the pictures. In Turkoman's eighth picture of the original post, and the final one of the koftgari, there does appear to be a grid of awl marks. So, there was encrustation work done on the blade at some point. Is it original, I would love to know! I made a thread enquiring about these and other floral motifs about six months ago in the Miscellaneous forum and did not get any takers. I am in the process of my own research and if I ever get satisfactory information I will revive it someday if another doesn't first. |
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19th October 2023, 05:49 PM | #12 |
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The application of koftgari on an older blade seems to have been often a case, as with this form of Indian tulwar (of Persian form) which IMO is from the Deccan. It is mounted with a British M1788 light cavalry saber blade, and as can be seen, decorated with koftgari, but in limited field at the forte.
While it is tempting to think of this as from the early period after Seringapatam (1799) and affiliated with East India Company, there are any number of possibilities (many possible stories ) . The point pertains to the koftgari application associated with British swords and blades in the colonial sphere. |
19th October 2023, 05:51 PM | #13 |
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North Pole/South Pole
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