Non ethno sword with strange inscription

fearn · 8th March 2005, 04:57 PM

That looks like upside-down Theban script to me.

Theban is used by wiccans on their tools and things, so I'd say that you got a ceremonial blade of some sort. I have no idea of where the script came from originally, although it probably came from some ceremonial magician or alchemist

You can search for it on the web, but here's the translation sheet I got off the web.

I tried translating it from the script, but I think it'd be easier on the blade itself, rightside up. I think the first frame says something like "Ace of Swords"

My guess is that someone got an old sword, and reinscribed it for ceremonial use sometime in the last 50 years.

Probably explains why it feels so good in your hand, too.

Fearn

Jens Nordlunde · 8th March 2005, 05:11 PM

Here is a link to Theban and other alphabets
http://www.omniglot.com/writing/theban.htm

Can you see if the writing and the eye are made with an electric tool, to me the curves seems as if they are.

Jens

Naga Basuki · 8th March 2005, 05:20 PM

Looks like the "Angelic" writing of Dr. John Dee.

fearn · 8th March 2005, 09:42 PM

Hmm. I'm pretty sure it's not Dee's Enochian/Angelic script.

That can be found here

Mark · 9th March 2005, 12:39 AM

I think you nailed it, fearn. I flipped the pictures and followed the key that you gave. One side reads "Ace of Swords" (with 2 U's standing for W), and the other reads "[Sw]ord of Swift Winds" (I can't make out the first two letters).

The Ace of Swords is a card in the Tarot deck (my avatar is the Tarot Page of Swords, BTW). The Sword of Swift Winds just sounds like someone's idea of a cool name. If the sword is genuine, its too bad that someone defaced it like that. Maybe it can be polished out.

fearn · 9th March 2005, 02:03 AM

Hi Mark,

Thanks for doing the hard work! Looking at it, I think it's actually "Lord of Swift Winds" (that first letter looks more like an L). The sword is the symbol of the element of air, so that makes sense.

Now we can have the real argument

--the blade has been dulled and engraved. Obviously this detracts from its value as a "pure example of an antique type" (however you parse that). OTOH, this is part of its history. To what degree is it worth erasing the history of a weapon to restore it to an assumed "ancestral" condition?

Personally, I think it would be kind of cool to have a known ritual sword, but tastes definitely differ.

So--comments? What makes this more genuine? Getting rid of the engraving and sharpening it, or leave it the way it is?

Fearn

tom hyle · 9th March 2005, 02:28 AM

The engraving looks fairly nicely done (a little crude), and I don't think I understand why anyone would have a problem with it. After market engraving and decoration of blades is quite traditional.
The blade does look old, and it also may have always been a practice sword; sharpening it might be more a conversion than a restoration, but don't let that stop you

The hand guard does not look old. It looks to have been arc/torch-welded up from thickish sheet steel cutouts, and some bar for the annoes.

8th March 2005, 04:57 PM	#1
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	That looks like upside-down Theban script to me. Theban is used by wiccans on their tools and things, so I'd say that you got a ceremonial blade of some sort. I have no idea of where the script came from originally, although it probably came from some ceremonial magician or alchemist You can search for it on the web, but here's the translation sheet I got off the web. I tried translating it from the script, but I think it'd be easier on the blade itself, rightside up. I think the first frame says something like "Ace of Swords" My guess is that someone got an old sword, and reinscribed it for ceremonial use sometime in the last 50 years. Probably explains why it feels so good in your hand, too. Fearn Attached Images

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8th March 2005, 05:11 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Here is a link to Theban and other alphabets http://www.omniglot.com/writing/theban.htm Can you see if the writing and the eye are made with an electric tool, to me the curves seems as if they are. Jens

8th March 2005, 05:20 PM	#3
Naga Basuki Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Big old machine shop/foundry/warehouse in Atlanta GA USA Posts: 51	Looks like the "Angelic" writing of Dr. John Dee.

8th March 2005, 09:42 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hmm. I'm pretty sure it's not Dee's Enochian/Angelic script. That can be found here

9th March 2005, 12:39 AM	#5
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I think you nailed it, fearn. I flipped the pictures and followed the key that you gave. One side reads "Ace of Swords" (with 2 U's standing for W), and the other reads "[Sw]ord of Swift Winds" (I can't make out the first two letters). The Ace of Swords is a card in the Tarot deck (my avatar is the Tarot Page of Swords, BTW). The Sword of Swift Winds just sounds like someone's idea of a cool name. If the sword is genuine, its too bad that someone defaced it like that. Maybe it can be polished out.

9th March 2005, 02:03 AM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Mark, Thanks for doing the hard work! Looking at it, I think it's actually "Lord of Swift Winds" (that first letter looks more like an L). The sword is the symbol of the element of air, so that makes sense. Now we can have the real argument --the blade has been dulled and engraved. Obviously this detracts from its value as a "pure example of an antique type" (however you parse that). OTOH, this is part of its history. To what degree is it worth erasing the history of a weapon to restore it to an assumed "ancestral" condition? Personally, I think it would be kind of cool to have a known ritual sword, but tastes definitely differ. So--comments? What makes this more genuine? Getting rid of the engraving and sharpening it, or leave it the way it is? Fearn

9th March 2005, 02:28 AM	#7
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	The engraving looks fairly nicely done (a little crude), and I don't think I understand why anyone would have a problem with it. After market engraving and decoration of blades is quite traditional. The blade does look old, and it also may have always been a practice sword; sharpening it might be more a conversion than a restoration, but don't let that stop you The hand guard does not look old. It looks to have been arc/torch-welded up from thickish sheet steel cutouts, and some bar for the annoes.