Riyadh's old Bazaar

[S.Al-Anizi]

Originally Posted by Aqtai

Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures.

Do any of the shops in the bazaar sell shields or armour (i.e. mail shirts, bazubands or helmets?)

On the subject of the sword blade, I have to say it looks pretty new for a 500 year old blade, but I'm no expert.

The following forums might give you some answers:
http://forums.swordforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=11
http://forums.swordforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=13
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewforum.php?f=1

You're always welcome Hisham.

I think I saw some mail shirts around, but I did not see any bazubands. Im sure that al-ahaidib's shop has everything, including armour.

If you havent heard, I was banned from swordforum a while ago, but I shall try on myarmoury

[Tim Simmons]

There must be Tudor ie 1500s script and engraving to check against this blade on the internet. The way it is on the blade does look as if it is a little latter.

What if the 1510 is an Islamic number, would it then be England 2003. The way England is engraved does look rather modern.

[S.Al-Anizi]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

There must be Tudor ie 1500s script and engraving to check against this blade on the internet. The way it is on the blade does look as if it is a little latter.

What if the 1510 is an Islamic number, would it then be England 2003. The way England is engraved does look rather modern.

It doesnt make sense to have an Islamic calendar date, against the word England. Besides, 1510 hijri is some 82 years in the future. There was a crown and a latin inscription on the hilt, which could have told me something about it, but I forgot to capture that

[Tim Simmons]

Okay that rule that out. I did not really under stand what I was doing on a calendar conversion site. The script and number not do look like they were done by a Tudor hand. Compere here and these are informal letters.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...WE:en%26sa%3DG

[Tim Simmons]

When I have time latter this evening I will scan some pictures of engraved lettering on 15-18th century blades.

[S.Al-Anizi]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Okay that rule that out. I did not really under stand what I was doing on a calendar conversion site. The script and number do look like they were done by a Tudor hand. Compere here and these are informal letters.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...WE:en%26sa%3DG

I sure does look similar, especially to this letter: http://tudorhistory.org/letters/tidelarge2.jpg

although it is less cursive.

[jmings]

Thank you for your pictures and comment.

Are you of the opinion that in the Arab world swordmaking is going the way of Toledo and Thailand where once wonderfull and fantastic weapons are being driven out of the marketplace by ill-ballanced, ugly objects unfit even for gardening?

[Tim Simmons]

The ENGLAND 1510 sword looks the spitting image of the 1796 heavy cavalry pattern sword. This sword was in service for 30 years according to Swords of the British Army, The Regulation Patterns 1788 to 1914. Pictures of engraved lettering to follow.

[S.Al-Anizi]

Originally Posted by jmings

Thank you for your pictures and comment.

Are you of the opinion that in the Arab world swordmaking is going the way of Toledo and Thailand where once wonderfull and fantastic weapons are being driven out of the marketplace by ill-ballanced, ugly objects unfit even for gardening?

You're welcome Jmings,

There never were any real bladesmithing tradition in arabia, except for mounting foreign blades with local hilts and scabbards, or so we may think right now. The area of arab arms and armour is probably the least explored in the field of arms and armour. If you would mean quality work, with old blades such as these, or the swords coming out of Ta'if, completely new, I would say yes, cheap Syrian junk is taking over the market. That is not to say that all newly made syrian stuff is bad, some are worthy being called swords. Its just that the bad stuff is driving quality out of the market.