Turkish NCO (?) WW1 Sword.

fernando · 1st February 2010, 06:22 PM

Say David,
Are the guard, ferrule and pommel in iron?
That dark shade ... is it patina, or some kind of finish?
Fernando

katana · 1st February 2010, 07:21 PM

Thank you Fernando and Zwielicht for your kind comments.

'Nando the guard, pommel etc is brass, with dark patination over most of them. Some areas looked to have been cleaned quite some time ago, and whilst cleaning the blade this patination was 'wiped' (not deliberately

)and is a little shinier.

There are nicks to the blade......which are very old.....perhaps these occured during the 'Great War' ....hard to say. It certainly has seen some 'action'. I have read that these swords were actually used in the trenches....some were shortened to make them effective 'trench knives', the guard making a useful 'knuckle-duster'.

I have also read that bayonets, swords and knives were often utilised in combat as the Turks often suffered ammunition supply problems, but were still expected to attack 'enemy' positions

Kind Regards David

Zifir · 1st February 2010, 09:01 PM

The inscription is especially interesting, showing how far the German influence on Turkish military went during that time. `Allah bizimle' is a direct translation of famous German military slogan of the Second (and later the Third) Reich: 'Gott mit uns'.

fernando · 1st February 2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zifir

The inscription is especially interesting, showing how far the German influence on Turkish military went during that time. `Allah bizimle' is a direct translation of famous German military slogan of the Second (and later the Third) Reich: 'Gott mit uns'.

I´ll be damned

Fernando

1st February 2010, 06:22 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Say David, Are the guard, ferrule and pommel in iron? That dark shade ... is it patina, or some kind of finish? Fernando

1st February 2010, 07:21 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thank you Fernando and Zwielicht for your kind comments. 'Nando the guard, pommel etc is brass, with dark patination over most of them. Some areas looked to have been cleaned quite some time ago, and whilst cleaning the blade this patination was 'wiped' (not deliberately )and is a little shinier. There are nicks to the blade......which are very old.....perhaps these occured during the 'Great War' ....hard to say. It certainly has seen some 'action'. I have read that these swords were actually used in the trenches....some were shortened to make them effective 'trench knives', the guard making a useful 'knuckle-duster'. I have also read that bayonets, swords and knives were often utilised in combat as the Turks often suffered ammunition supply problems, but were still expected to attack 'enemy' positions Kind Regards David

1st February 2010, 09:01 PM	#3
Zifir Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Istanbul Posts: 228	The inscription is especially interesting, showing how far the German influence on Turkish military went during that time. `Allah bizimle' is a direct translation of famous German military slogan of the Second (and later the Third) Reich: 'Gott mit uns'.