Movies and Edged Weapons Pt. 2

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by Bill M

The Turks left in such a hurry, running for their lives, that they left behind EVERYTHING! Weapons, tents, even their coffee beans (not in the movie). The Viennese grabbed up the beans, even opened coffee roasting plant where the Turks dropped them. Vienna is now know for great coffe, and here is where it started.

The battle took place on 9/11 1683.

Hi,
This sword of mine has an earlier Ottoman blade mounted with a later 1850 pattern Austrian hilt. I contacted the Army Museum in Vienna and they told me that this was a popular configuration amongst the officer class. Many of these trophy blades are regarded as heirlooms and were handed down through the generations and mounted with the regulation hilt of the day. I like to think that there is the chance that this blade was captured at the Siege of Vienna but of course I have no means to prove the possibility either way. Hope this is of some interest.
Regards,
Norman.