Help with blade of possible european Make

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Austin,
Thanks for the additional closeups, thats does help a lot. That blade has me a bit puzzled, and I cannot place the fuller style, but it is distinctly different than the typical Omani blades which seem to usually be very similar to the blades found on kaskaras of Sudan. I have tried to see if this triple channel the full blade length shows up on these but havent yet.

The scabbard throat with langet receiver and most important, the device just below it, which is known as the aghrab (=scorpion) is distinctly of the style seen on Arabian sa'if's from Hadhramaut, in the Yemen just to the west of Oman.

In closer view of these elements I would feel inclined that this blade was likely mounted in these regions in the 19th century, safely suggesting mid century. The native application of the trade blade symbols was likely due to the fact that these symbols were believed to enhance the power imbued in the blades. The folk religion that prevailed among Bedouin tribes recognized such beliefs in addition to the aghrab device, which were originally used to defy 'the evil eye' and similar superstitions. These elements were maintained as traditional motif designs long after these designs were first used in the 18th century, and probably even earlier.

This really is a nice example, and I have always thought Arabian swords were especially interesting with the profound importance of Arabs in the trade world. Oman was key in trade in the Red Sea and the Atlantic, and the Omani Sultanate at Zanzibar was I think one of the key centers into Africa.

Thanks again for sharing this here Austin!
All the best,
Jim

[Ronin 47]

Ok first I thought I was seeing things but then I took the blade over to a friends house who has some wootz blades, and we both saw what appears to be a grainy structure in the blade which looks like wootz, we compared it to other wootz examples in similiar condition and there appears to be some similarities overall with the grain structure. I'm posting some (not to great) pictures and was just wondering what other board members thought, and if it might be worth going at the blade with some Japanese figure stones to try and bring up the pattern if there really is one, or should I just leave it as is?

[TVV]

I do not see anything, but wootz is very difficult to photograph, so anything is possible, even if very unlikely.
Regards,
Teodor

[ward]

Looks like a Euro trade blade to me, probably 18th century.
If you etch it you might get a little layering but not wootz.
Myself, I'd leave it as it is, looks like it has original finish on it.
Just hit it with some fine steel wool to get the gunk off

[Ronin 47]

After looking at it further I think there is grain, but most likely not wootz, so I will just leave best alone. Anyway this sword looks a lot like the South German Landsknegt Broadsword, circa 1530, that's coming up for auction at Hessink's if you broke or filed the tip down, its probably not that old but its still interesting.

Thanks again for all the help

Austin R.

[katana]

Could this be a re-hilted Kaskara ? Geographically Oman and the eastern coast of Africa are linked by sea trade, its not too unreasonable to think a blade may have travelled via sea ports.

Regards David

[Ronin 47]

I hate to do this but Arabian weaponry much less any weaponry from that part of the world is not really my area of expertise, and I would appreciate it if someone could please PM a rough going price for these Arabian sa'if's with European trade blades. This is not for resale purposes but I think I overpayed and I would like to know by how much, I have been looking through past auction house records but I can't seem to find a similiar example to go on. Thanks in advance for any help.