About the Dussäge

Jim McDougall · 21st January 2007, 10:10 PM

Right on Joe!!

I had forgotten that incredible tulwar of Jens' !!
Definitely a great example of that biconcave curve .

All best regards,
Jim

Emanuel · 21st January 2007, 11:08 PM

Fantastic posts Jim and Joe!!
Thank you very much!
I will submit my full reply a little later, but I've found a picture and mention of a 16th century Italian sword with extreme bi-concave curvature along the spine. I have yet to scan it, it actually looks like the literary impression of what scimitars may be.
Will post in the coming days.

Warm regards,
Emanuel

Joe · 22nd January 2007, 02:34 AM

Thanks Emmanuel. I look forward to seeing your pics.

Two more biconcave yelmans. One on Ariel's ancient shashka (which I can't believe I forgot about), and another on a very high-class tulwar.

Full pic's of Ariel's sword can be seen here:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2695

Hmm, I can't help but think that there's something connecting all these different sword types, some sort of missing link.........

Emanuel · 24th January 2007, 05:26 PM

Hello,
Here is the promised wonder

What say you to this quadri-concave beauty? "A rare example of a storta, Italian (Venice), c. 1490...The antecedents of the storta can be found in the medieval falchion and the single-edged sabres carried...by nomadic warriors from the Eastern steppes." (p.48 Swords and Hilt Weapons, Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London 1989)
It was found mainly in Italy and France. I'd say this qualifies as the scimitar of old. This Venician piece could be taken rather as a derivative of Islamic examples due to the city's trade networks, than a development from the falchion, I think. Odd that 15th century Europe still preferred thrusting weapons to slashing. The cavalry of most western European countries was still mainly equiped with lances at this time wasn't it?

A pitty there are so few extant examples of this sabre type, it's magnificent!

Best regards,
Emanuel

Mark · 24th January 2007, 07:47 PM

Beautiful sword. The guard reminds me a bit of that of a flyssa.

"Storta," by the way, means "crooked" or "twisted," and sometimes depending on context "distorted" (as in a distorted view of the world).

Emanuel · 24th January 2007, 09:51 PM

Hello Mark,
Do you mean the nimcha? The flyssa doesn't have a guard. Looking through some books, the handle and guard on this one are a lot like those of other falchions of the period. A fascinating weapon, I'll keep reading on it.
Emanuel

22nd January 2007, 02:34 AM	#3
Joe Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 48	Thanks Emmanuel. I look forward to seeing your pics. Two more biconcave yelmans. One on Ariel's ancient shashka (which I can't believe I forgot about), and another on a very high-class tulwar. Full pic's of Ariel's sword can be seen here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2695 Hmm, I can't help but think that there's something connecting all these different sword types, some sort of missing link......... Attached Images

24th January 2007, 05:26 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, Here is the promised wonder What say you to this quadri-concave beauty? "A rare example of a storta, Italian (Venice), c. 1490...The antecedents of the storta can be found in the medieval falchion and the single-edged sabres carried...by nomadic warriors from the Eastern steppes." (p.48 Swords and Hilt Weapons, Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London 1989) It was found mainly in Italy and France. I'd say this qualifies as the scimitar of old. This Venician piece could be taken rather as a derivative of Islamic examples due to the city's trade networks, than a development from the falchion, I think. Odd that 15th century Europe still preferred thrusting weapons to slashing. The cavalry of most western European countries was still mainly equiped with lances at this time wasn't it? A pitty there are so few extant examples of this sabre type, it's magnificent! Best regards, Emanuel Attached Images

21st January 2007, 10:10 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,584	Right on Joe!! I had forgotten that incredible tulwar of Jens' !! Definitely a great example of that biconcave curve . All best regards, Jim

21st January 2007, 11:08 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Fantastic posts Jim and Joe!! Thank you very much! I will submit my full reply a little later, but I've found a picture and mention of a 16th century Italian sword with extreme bi-concave curvature along the spine. I have yet to scan it, it actually looks like the literary impression of what scimitars may be. Will post in the coming days. Warm regards, Emanuel

24th January 2007, 07:47 PM	#5
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Beautiful sword. The guard reminds me a bit of that of a flyssa. "Storta," by the way, means "crooked" or "twisted," and sometimes depending on context "distorted" (as in a distorted view of the world).

24th January 2007, 09:51 PM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Mark, Do you mean the nimcha? The flyssa doesn't have a guard. Looking through some books, the handle and guard on this one are a lot like those of other falchions of the period. A fascinating weapon, I'll keep reading on it. Emanuel