Sword with 'famous' blade

[Jim McDougall]

Really beautiful sword Nando! and as you have well surmised, it is of course not a true 'Ayala' blade, but one of the Solingen products of the 18th century, and I am inclined to think these were earlier in the century than the well known 'Spanish motto' dragoon blades.

Tomas Ayala was a late 16th century Toledo smith whose name, according to Mann (Wallace Coll. 1962, pp.288-9) was one of the frequently used names as rather a 'brand' well into 18th c. I believe he ceased c. 1625.

Your note of the curious mark over the 'I' (which is apparantly the German spelling used in place of the 'Y') is a well considered thought. As you know my obsession is with markings, and I am wondering if perhaps this vdery subtle mark could have other meaning than you suggest. A similar mark (looks like a bird in flight) is known in some of the esoterica as a kind of signature associated with the order of friars of Brothers of St. John.
If I recall this or similar order was situated in or near Solingen quite early, and there were numerous symbols etc. used by Spanish adopted in some German contexts.
While of course not necessarily anything supportable at this point, it seems clearly a deliberately placed, yet unobtrusive mark and would be interesting to look more into.

The other mark seems a sort of 'serpentine' symbol as well as the parallel undulating lines at the forte, which seems we discussed some time ago as a recurring symbol on a number of renaissance period blades.

[fernando]

Thanks much for your luminescent impressions, Jim .
So a XVIII century Solingen (trade) blade it will be. Many of tese found their way to Portugal, as blades were not the local cup of tea.
My frigid character can't however follow you isoteric aura on what counts the wavy marks, but i will take very good account of them, as you put it .

[Jim McDougall]

You bet Nando!
Hey, I like that....luminescence!!!! and esoteric aura !!!
Actually I liked the idea of the diacritic over the 'I', but thought a little 'Templars' and perhaps some UFO allusion would add a little flair.

You're right, Portugal as I understand was getting quite a few blades from England, and since Germany and England had profound arrangements in these times, it is not surprising that some of these Spanish market ones would enter the mix.

All the best,
Jim

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... You're right, Portugal as I understand was getting quite a few blades from England ...

I guess that was at a later stage ... end XVIII beg. XIX century ... Peninsular war etc.
In an earlier period, they would come from Germany ... as many found in rapiers and cuphilt swords.
But i am no Guru in this (or other) area... may be talking nonsense

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by fernando

I guess that was at a later stage ... end XVIII beg. XIX century ... Peninsular war etc.
In an earlier period, they would come from Germany ... as many found in rapiers and cuphilt swords.
But i am no Guru in this (or other) area... may be talking nonsense

You are far too modest Nando! Ive known you too long for you to get away with that and yes it was end of the 18th I was thinking of. Germany seems to have virtually always been the supercenter of arms and armour, despite the superb work produced in Italy and Spain in thier own eras.

[dana_w]

Thanks for sharing fernando. I always learn something interesting from reading Jim McDougall comments too.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by dana_w

... I always learn something interesting from reading Jim McDougall comments too.

But don't tell him that. He thinks otherwise