Testing your memory

fernando · 13th December 2013, 06:40 PM

Does anyone remember a thread some (reasonable) time ago, showing a sword (sabre) with an extremely (almost implausible) curved blade ?
Was it in this forum section ?
Thanks for your help

Jim McDougall · 13th December 2013, 06:48 PM

Hi Nando,
Yup, this is indeed a memory test ( especially for we uh, 'older folk

. Over the years of course I know we have discussed sabres with extremely parabolic blades but possibly you might recall more on other features of the sword you are recalling ?
Meanwhile, you know it'll drive me nuts til I find it

Usually Rick is the one who seems to relocate things back to the really, really old days here.

fernando · 13th December 2013, 07:03 PM

Extremely quick reaction Jim, thanks

.
Well, it wasn't sooo long ago; one ... two years

.
No, i don't recall most details, only the astonishingly curved blade, close to a 180º arch.
European it was ... probably French !

Jim McDougall · 13th December 2013, 08:02 PM

Hi Nando,
I think I recall that one, and it does seem that the French officers did often favor extreme 'exotica' in many cases with their sabres. I think a lot of this was during the flamboyance of the Napoleonic period and carrying over from their earlier attraction to Oriental and exotic forces implemented into auxiliary troops in their ranks. Im thinking of the pandours and then of course the Ottoman and Mamluk influences later.

In these times military fashion was de riguer and it seems the colorful uniforms and flamboyant arms were of profound importance. I believe after the campaign in Egypt that the French were probably first to adopt the Mamluk type sabres, and the Americans (well established allies with France) soon followed, then by the British.

The turn of the century was also a time of considerable experimentation and innovation with swords, and as Le Marchant sought developing regulation patterns he considered various foreign forms before arriving at the M1796 light cavalry sabre with heavy hatchet point blade.

I had a stirrup hilt sabre with unusual cant to its hilt and a dramatically curved blade (as you describe nearly ridiculous) a sharp point and a pronounced pipe back rod on the back of the blade. This I believed to be British around late 1790s and thought that it might be one of those prototypes (?) reflecting the hybridization of European rod type back and the curvature and point of a shamshir.
I would here note that the British M1803 regulation hilt (lionhead) for infantry and flank company officers often had extremely curved blades.

In my opinion most of these extremes were more toward the constant fashion competition among officers, and while seemingly rather curious they were quite valid at the time.

Though admittedly rambling here and not much help with the question I wanted to just add some salient notes pertaining to these kinds of blades for the readers and as always, look forward to their input.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 13th December 2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Hi Nando,
I think I recall that one, and it does seem that the French officers did often favor extreme 'exotica' in many cases with their sabres. I think a lot of this was during the flamboyance of the Napoleonic period and carrying over from their earlier attraction to Oriental and exotic forces implemented into auxiliary troops in their ranks. Im thinking of the pandours and then of course the Ottoman and Mamluk influences later.

In these times military fashion was de riguer and it seems the colorful uniforms and flamboyant arms were of profound importance. I believe after the campaign in Egypt that the French were probably first to adopt the Mamluk type sabres, and the Americans (well established allies with France) soon followed, then by the British.

The turn of the century was also a time of considerable experimentation and innovation with swords, and as Le Marchant sought developing regulation patterns he considered various foreign forms before arriving at the M1796 light cavalry sabre with heavy hatchet point blade.

I had a stirrup hilt sabre with unusual cant to its hilt and a dramatically curved blade (as you describe nearly ridiculous) a sharp point and a pronounced pipe back rod on the back of the blade. This I believed to be British around late 1790s and thought that it might be one of those prototypes (?) reflecting the hybridization of European rod type back and the curvature and point of a shamshir.
I would here note that the British M1803 regulation hilt (lionhead) for infantry and flank company officers often had extremely curved blades.

In my opinion most of these extremes were more toward the constant fashion competition among officers, and while seemingly rather curious they were quite valid at the time.

Though admittedly rambling here and not much help with the question I wanted to just add some salient notes pertaining to these kinds of blades for the readers and as always, look forward to their input.

Salaams Jim and Fernando ~Is it this ... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...d+french+blade
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Jim McDougall · 13th December 2013, 10:21 PM

Outstanding Ibrahiim!!!!! This must have been it! How in the world did you find that??? it was 2008, eeeek! Nando, we're in trouble, what we think was two years ago is nearly 6.

As I apparently noted in the discussion, this truly dramatically curved sabre (preposterously ridiculous I would say

is likely Russian, the carry rings on the outside curve of the scabbard as was typical of Russian sabres. The hilt resembles the French ANXI as Russians based most of their arms on French models .

Thank you again Ibrahiim, researcher extraordinare. )

13th December 2013, 06:40 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Testing your memory Does anyone remember a thread some (reasonable) time ago, showing a sword (sabre) with an extremely (almost implausible) curved blade ? Was it in this forum section ? Thanks for your help

13th December 2013, 10:21 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Outstanding Ibrahiim!!!!! This must have been it! How in the world did you find that??? it was 2008, eeeek! Nando, we're in trouble, what we think was two years ago is nearly 6. As I apparently noted in the discussion, this truly dramatically curved sabre (preposterously ridiculous I would say is likely Russian, the carry rings on the outside curve of the scabbard as was typical of Russian sabres. The hilt resembles the French ANXI as Russians based most of their arms on French models . Thank you again Ibrahiim, researcher extraordinare. ) Attached Images

13th December 2013, 06:48 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Hi Nando, Yup, this is indeed a memory test ( especially for we uh, 'older folk . Over the years of course I know we have discussed sabres with extremely parabolic blades but possibly you might recall more on other features of the sword you are recalling ? Meanwhile, you know it'll drive me nuts til I find it Usually Rick is the one who seems to relocate things back to the really, really old days here.

13th December 2013, 07:03 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Extremely quick reaction Jim, thanks . Well, it wasn't sooo long ago; one ... two years . No, i don't recall most details, only the astonishingly curved blade, close to a 180º arch. European it was ... probably French !

13th December 2013, 08:02 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Hi Nando, I think I recall that one, and it does seem that the French officers did often favor extreme 'exotica' in many cases with their sabres. I think a lot of this was during the flamboyance of the Napoleonic period and carrying over from their earlier attraction to Oriental and exotic forces implemented into auxiliary troops in their ranks. Im thinking of the pandours and then of course the Ottoman and Mamluk influences later. In these times military fashion was de riguer and it seems the colorful uniforms and flamboyant arms were of profound importance. I believe after the campaign in Egypt that the French were probably first to adopt the Mamluk type sabres, and the Americans (well established allies with France) soon followed, then by the British. The turn of the century was also a time of considerable experimentation and innovation with swords, and as Le Marchant sought developing regulation patterns he considered various foreign forms before arriving at the M1796 light cavalry sabre with heavy hatchet point blade. I had a stirrup hilt sabre with unusual cant to its hilt and a dramatically curved blade (as you describe nearly ridiculous) a sharp point and a pronounced pipe back rod on the back of the blade. This I believed to be British around late 1790s and thought that it might be one of those prototypes (?) reflecting the hybridization of European rod type back and the curvature and point of a shamshir. I would here note that the British M1803 regulation hilt (lionhead) for infantry and flank company officers often had extremely curved blades. In my opinion most of these extremes were more toward the constant fashion competition among officers, and while seemingly rather curious they were quite valid at the time. Though admittedly rambling here and not much help with the question I wanted to just add some salient notes pertaining to these kinds of blades for the readers and as always, look forward to their input.