1st August 2024, 11:59 PM | #4 | |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,930
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Quote:
Beautifully assessed! and thank you for this most telling inscription! In this wording, much in the manner of often elaborate and notable blade decoration on hunting weapons of the 18th c. in Europe, seems to paraphrase the well known "Spanish motto". This was the popular wording on Spanish blades of mid 18th c. into 19th using (in Spanish), "Draw Me Not Without Reason, Nor Sheathe Me Without Honor". This phrase, while later applied to blades made in degree in Toledo, was apparently used on dragoon blades for the Spanish colonies in America around 1760s, and was found sometimes on French blades of the time (in French of course). It seems that in mid 18th century in Austria, by virtue of the 'exotic' pandour forces serving with the Austro-Hungarian forces inspired often interesting European versions of Ottoman type affectations...in this case CLEFT grip pommels. These kinds of features were of course known on transcaucasian weapons as well as Caucasian shashkas. Here is an example of a yataghan type saber with hirshfanger style hilt, the blade with monogram of Carl Theodor of Austria (c.1742-1777). The pandour forces often used Ottoman yataghans and similarly styled European versions. It is this convention I think may be at hand here with the hilt, and as well noted, carried forth into end of 18th into 19th even with hunting weapons while in vogue with the gentry and persons of high station. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 2nd August 2024 at 12:13 AM. |
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