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#1 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 176
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Hello,
The newest addition to my collection. I would like any information you guys have about it, approximate age? When I bought it, the pommel was broken off, and it is very damaged, but a quick superglue job fixed it. The blade measures 28 inches, which is quite short for a saif I must say, as most are over 30. The silver is very oxidised too. May I ask, will polishing the silver back to its shine, devalue the piece? I really would like to, but Im afraid it will lose some value. The hilt slabs have hairline cracks in them, and are of bone or ivory (I cant tell). The edge seems to have been sharpened with a file at some point, but its verrry sharp, razor sharp, touching it gave me a nasty cut on my fingers. The blade profile is very katana like, not a wedge as common on these swords. I must say, this is a very hefty blade, the stoutest Ive seen on a saif. This sword is very well balanced and very well made, only not very well cared for, there was some light pitting and rust in the middle of the blade, which I cleaned off easily, and many other lightly pitted spots. The pommel is very damaged. Im very excited with this sword, as its my first antique ever! Hope you guys can help me with my queries. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Last edited by M.carter; 26th May 2006 at 03:02 PM. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 176
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![]() Last edited by M.carter; 26th May 2006 at 03:00 PM. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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I would see no harm in brightening the silver (not polishing, of course, there are silver cleaning liquids in any supermarket). After all, removing the rust from the blade or putting some Leather Therapy on the scabbard are the necessary components of proper care for a sword.
do you think it is Syrian or Saudi ( general areas)? |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 31
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That's a very interesting blade geometry, I wonder if the experts could weigh in on whether this is common with saifs? Personally I don't recall seeing one before.
Congrats on a very nice piece Mr. Carter, once the antique bug bites it doesn't seem to let go. ![]() |
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#5 | |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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#6 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 176
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#7 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 176
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Oh yeah, and I think, that that bit me ![]() |
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 176
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#9 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,252
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I believe jeweller's rouge to be a pretty safe bet. I have a similar compound in an boiled linseed oil base which works great to touch up wood and also works nicely on silver and some other materials. Regards, Kai |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Kai is right. IN addition you can also use a jewelers cloth. The liquid "tarn-x" or stuff like that distroy the finish that is there beneath the tarnish.
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#11 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: dc
Posts: 271
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Nice sword and an unusual blade. Shaped a little like a Japanese sword.
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#12 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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One other point regarding cleaning the tarnish off the silver. I had forgotton the name of another soft abrasive that I would recommend first: "Never Dull" which can be googled, then afterwards use a jeweler's cloth (also called a "sunshine cloth). This is what I do sometimes and find it effective without micro-gouging the surface.
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
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As already pointed out, the blade really does have all the hallmarks of a Katana. Is it possible that it is a re-mounted katana? Shipping routes from Japan to Europe via the Suez Canal (open to shipping in 1869) were, I believe, common. Before the opening of the canal, goods were sometimes transported by being offloaded from ships and carried overland between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. This was often quicker and safer (the cape was often treacherous to sea farers.)
It is not impossible for a Japanese sword or blade to find its way to the middle east.......and then re-mounted. A very interesting sword........if only your saif could talk..... ![]() |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,780
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If that is so, why do we not see more locally finished Japanese trade blades in the northern hemisphere? It does look like the Japanese cavalry sabre blade used into ww2. I hate to be the one that pours cold water on it but look at the freshness of the blade. lovely scabbard and handle but I have a feeling this is an early 20th century construction.
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#15 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
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Japan being Britain's ally in ww1 could have supplied blades to Arabia.
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#16 |
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Location: Kent
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I was not suggesting the sword is of great age, just offering the possibility that, because trade increased with Japan after the opening of the Suez, that even 120 years ago it could be possible that a Japanese blade could have ended up in the middle east. Not necessarily as a 'trade' blade either, (as Tim pointed out, why are there not more?) Perhaps (as I was thinking) a trophy, gift or personal purchase by a trader/crew member etc later sold on .......who knows...this is after all ...just speculation
Obviously as time progressed through the 20th C the probability (of a Japanese blade in the Middle East) increases dramatically. (the World Wars, commercial airlines etc etc) |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 176
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Hi All,
The chances of this sword bearing a japanese blade are just like the chances of Saudi Arabia winning the world cup this year ![]() As for the age of this sword, I personally wouldnt think that its much older than 150 years, at the most. Its certainly not 20th century, as most 20th century saifs have longer, more curved blades, which are also finer. Of course, most of this is guesstimation, based upon my handling and viewing many arabian swords. I just finished polishing the scabbard and hilt fittings, looks MUCH better now, after all the rubbing and scrubbing with that rouge. Ill post a pic tommorow. EDIT: Just noted something, looking down the pommel, which was very damaged, I can see the end of the tang of the blade, and as with ALL arabian swords, the end of the tang is hooked. Now I do not think that the Japanese produced hooked tangs for their shin-gunto's or gendaito's |
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