Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Could the eyelash mark originate from Vienna ?

Jim McDougall · 17th October 2023, 06:24 PM

Thanks David, like to see pics of that spine.
I found a plate of blade cross sections of Polish and in degree Hungarian swords in "Cecia Prazdziwa Szabla" , Wojciech Zablocki, Warsaw, 1989, p.62,
which shows several blade sections with 'indented spine', probably 18th into early 19th c.

Polish swords (and Hungarian) had blades made in Lvov (once Poland-Lithuania, then Austria now western Ukraine) typically Armenian makers; Graz and several other cities in Styria (SE Austria).
Lvov had prevalent trade contact with Venice, and all of these were in the complex geopolitical network of the Austro-Hungarian (Holy Roman Empire).

The well known 'sickle' marks traveled through all these networks becoming a symbolic device subtly denoting quality and were widely copied and used in various configurations and applications.
The markings became notably used in Styrian blades, and it is believed that through Genoan trade networks in the Black Sea they entered the Caucasian sphere, becoming known as 'gurda' (=good blade).

Wayne, outstanding paluoar!!! and to see these 'sickles' placed multiply as well as 'strategically' as often seen on Indian blades where the three dots (trimurti) are often placed at key locations on blades.

Pics attached of a Khevsur 'pranguli' (Caucasian Georgia late 19th c) with blade believed of Ataghi aul (Chechnya) using the 'gurda' in linear motif, reflectjng the potential talismanic imbuement of multiples. I have seen similar linear application of these 'sickles' on some Indian swords.

17th October 2023, 06:24 PM	#45
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,792	Thanks David, like to see pics of that spine. I found a plate of blade cross sections of Polish and in degree Hungarian swords in "Cecia Prazdziwa Szabla" , Wojciech Zablocki, Warsaw, 1989, p.62, which shows several blade sections with 'indented spine', probably 18th into early 19th c. Polish swords (and Hungarian) had blades made in Lvov (once Poland-Lithuania, then Austria now western Ukraine) typically Armenian makers; Graz and several other cities in Styria (SE Austria). Lvov had prevalent trade contact with Venice, and all of these were in the complex geopolitical network of the Austro-Hungarian (Holy Roman Empire). The well known 'sickle' marks traveled through all these networks becoming a symbolic device subtly denoting quality and were widely copied and used in various configurations and applications. The markings became notably used in Styrian blades, and it is believed that through Genoan trade networks in the Black Sea they entered the Caucasian sphere, becoming known as 'gurda' (=good blade). Wayne, outstanding paluoar!!! and to see these 'sickles' placed multiply as well as 'strategically' as often seen on Indian blades where the three dots (trimurti) are often placed at key locations on blades. Pics attached of a Khevsur 'pranguli' (Caucasian Georgia late 19th c) with blade believed of Ataghi aul (Chechnya) using the 'gurda' in linear motif, reflectjng the potential talismanic imbuement of multiples. I have seen similar linear application of these 'sickles' on some Indian swords. Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 17th October 2023 at 06:41 PM.