Naval sword- opinions,please

[Andrew]

Boy, that blade really does remind me of the sword we discussed on this old thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001880.html

The pix are long gone. I'll try to take some tomorrow and post them here for comparison.


By the way, it's good to see you posting, Mark. Welcome back.

[M ELEY]

Thanks, Andrew! I still visit the site frequently (with all of this information from such esteemed sources, it would be foolish not to), but don't have much free time to post. Yes, I do remember this particular sword with its sharply curved blade. Well, thats one that didn't occur to me! There is a distinct possibility that this could be a Chinese cutlass. Still, if it weren't for the blade, I'd still assume British or American merchantman. Would like to see pics of that old sword we discussed again, though, for comparison.

[Andrew]

The weather is conspiring against taking pix today, maybe tomorrow.

Certainly, the handles are very different. It's the blades that strike me as similar. It may be just the cosmetic appearance from similar pitting and age, but your description of the wedge-shape cross section had me thinking...

[M ELEY]

The wedged blade does fit, especially with the dau swords. You mentioning this also got me to thinking how much the rounded-bowl guard on mine also resembles many of the Chinese guards, minus the knuckle bow. Hmmm...

[RSWORD]

This sword has a composite feel to me. In looking closely at the pictures, there are a few things I notice:

1) The blade shape, profile and the way it widens at its tip plus also abruptly swings upwards reminds me most of Tulwar blades.

2) The ribbed grip has a more European flare and seems similar to those on early British naval cutlass.

3) The guard appears to be a much later add on. Notice that it is not peined through at the top and the part of the guard which fits over the blade looks forced on. If all componenets had been assembled at the same time one would expect the top to be peined and a much better and natural fit of the guard over the blade portion. In one of the pictures there seems to be a small remnant of glue or something coming from the area of the guard, blade and handle conjoining.

Now, this is not to say that these pieces did not come together a long time ago. Certainly one finds Indian blades mounted up in British hilts. You will be able to tell much better once you have the piece in hand.

[M ELEY]

Hello,Rick! Sorry I haven't contacted you in ages. I've been exceptionally busy. I promise to drop you an email soon! Now, about this saber-
Ouch! I hope you are wrong on this one, but you're right about it not being peined on the end. The part that looks like glue is the brazed brass I spoke of(I scraped away the new black paint that coverted it). I've heard of some colonial American pieces with hilts being held on with molten lead,brass,etc. The brazing does show some age. You make an excellent point about British era swords being adapted to Indian use and the curve on this blade. Perhaps this was an Indian "capture" from sea use which saw adaptation. The blade is definately old, matching the hilt in pitting/age, but its possible that the guard is a later addition (maybe not too distant of a time period). The hilt is similar to the British/American affairs, with the blackened finish to the hilt. The only thing that still makes me think that the blade could still be European is that it is thick, wedge-shaped, only sharpened near the point down to about 10", definately not watered steel. It is a thick monster, but the pics from eBay are deceiving as it doesn't swell toward the tip (it does make an abrupt curve, though). I've seen some late 18th/early 19th century blades like this. I'm guessing that this will be one of those pieces that will remain a partial mystery.