Why Did Italian Sword Makers Die Out?

MForde · 3rd October 2019, 01:06 PM

I think suppression by the Austrians is a most valid point and one that I hadn't considered.

The reason I ask this is because I'm cataloging the Italian regulation swords in the 1800s and there really isn't much written in English about it all and I'm rather chained to Google Translate at the moment as my Italian is sadly limited to ordering coffee.

I've just finished translating cherry-picked sections from L'Armamento Individuale dell'Esercito dal 1861 al 1943 and it is one of the first works (of many I've translated) that touched on the manufacturing capabilities of the various states. Interestingly, just after Unification, the three main centres of production at the Royal Factory of Turin near Valdocco, the Brescia factory and that of Torre Annunziata were happily churning out rifles and bayonets but not sword blades. I think, as has been suggested, this is partly due to the waning of the sword's importance.

I would love to know who were producing the hilts!

3rd October 2019, 01:06 PM	#9
MForde Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: UK Posts: 36	I think suppression by the Austrians is a most valid point and one that I hadn't considered. The reason I ask this is because I'm cataloging the Italian regulation swords in the 1800s and there really isn't much written in English about it all and I'm rather chained to Google Translate at the moment as my Italian is sadly limited to ordering coffee. I've just finished translating cherry-picked sections from L'Armamento Individuale dell'Esercito dal 1861 al 1943 and it is one of the first works (of many I've translated) that touched on the manufacturing capabilities of the various states. Interestingly, just after Unification, the three main centres of production at the Royal Factory of Turin near Valdocco, the Brescia factory and that of Torre Annunziata were happily churning out rifles and bayonets but not sword blades. I think, as has been suggested, this is partly due to the waning of the sword's importance. I would love to know who were producing the hilts!