Forum: European Armoury
20th April 2022, 10:37 AM
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Replies: 11
Views: 917
cuts and cutlasses
Thank-you Fernando.
I may have seen such a thing, but I never gave it any serious consideration until...
Now I'm thinking: to deliberately weaken the forte that way, indicated a great unlikeliness...
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Forum: European Armoury
19th April 2022, 07:26 PM
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Replies: 11
Views: 917
cut and thrust
Hi Fernando. It may well be a spelling error.
Is this what they mean by three hollows perhaps (see attached, found online):
What is a cut through blade? I'm not certain I am aware of this.
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Forum: European Armoury
19th April 2022, 04:46 PM
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Replies: 11
Views: 917
att. Ferndando, and att. Jim
Firstly: Fernando, in the list of blades required of the SB smiths that I include in this thread there is something I highlighted called a Portugall Cutt 40 - 48 inches long with 1, 2, or 3 hollows....
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Forum: European Armoury
19th April 2022, 01:48 PM
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Replies: 11
Views: 917
1700s battlefield swords
Looking over the Royal Collection and The Royal Armouries it appears that the 'basket' hilt predominated.
I can't find early 1700s munitions grade swords hilted in any other way; surely there must...
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Forum: European Armoury
19th April 2022, 12:46 PM
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Replies: 11
Views: 917
early 1700s swords in the UK
Fernando: thank-you for the script, it is an interesting read, but unfortunately it only goes to the 1600s and I need the first half of the 1700s.
Thank-you Jim. A fascinating look at a...
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Forum: European Armoury
17th April 2022, 10:28 AM
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Replies: 11
Views: 917
early 1700s English swords
Perhaps someone can help me with this issue:
I've previously published a list of blade types Shotley bridge workers were contracted to produce in 1703 (I've attached it again below) but I am at a...
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Forum: European Armoury
8th April 2022, 04:58 PM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
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Forum: European Armoury
8th April 2022, 09:43 AM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
Japanning
Hi Rick.
Yes, that is how I thought of Japanning till I set off searching 1600s copper plating and references were often made to Japanning.
As it is well outside my area of experience I accepted it...
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Forum: European Armoury
5th April 2022, 09:26 PM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
Naval brass
My studies continue:
"Naval brass", for use in seawater, contains 40% zinc but also 1% tin. The tin addition suppresses zinc leaching.
This is great, I am getting more and more acquainted with...
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Forum: European Armoury
5th April 2022, 09:12 PM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
My theory of nautical purpose would actually...
My theory of nautical purpose would actually account for the high copper content of the brass.
I've been thinking about this and looking at the use of 'Naval Brass' which apparently has a 70% copper...
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Forum: European Armoury
5th April 2022, 07:23 PM
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Replies: 9
Views: 1,581
Manganese
I can't quote figures here but I can say that the iron in the Wupper Valley had a very high Manganese content which reputedly accounted for some of the reason for fine blades.
I notice that the WS...
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Forum: European Armoury
4th April 2022, 09:46 PM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
ps
The other giveaway is the copper binding on the grip: the way it looks perfect against the copper plate finish but odd against the brass.
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Forum: European Armoury
4th April 2022, 09:41 PM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
copper plating
If you look at the earlier 'genuine' image of the sword hilt (before I photo-shopped it) you will see the areas of copper plating predominate in the lower surfaces and the areas where little to no...
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Forum: European Armoury
4th April 2022, 11:05 AM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
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Forum: European Armoury
4th April 2022, 11:02 AM
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Replies: 9
Views: 1,581
blade breakers
I've mentioned this in the past but it seems pertinent here:
I have memories of Hollywood depicting the disgraced officer's sword being broken across a knee.
Also, the business of blade breakers...
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Forum: European Armoury
24th March 2022, 11:45 AM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
PS Ownership
This was obviously a very luxurious and expensive sword.
As almost all of these bladed swords went to Jacobites in 1687 and early 1688 (i.e. before the Glorious Revolution and the change in...
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Forum: European Armoury
24th March 2022, 11:35 AM
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Replies: 12
Views: 1,478
Shotley Bridge smallsword
I recently acquired this Shotley Bridge smallsword.
During the six years I have been researching Shotley swordmakers I have only ever seen three (including this one).
The hilts of the other two...
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Forum: European Armoury
14th March 2022, 06:41 PM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
NB
Noted, Fernando, this seemingly disputes my theory.
I also note that we have run out of input on this subject.
It seems odd that the means to become the biggest and best supplier of swords to the...
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Forum: European Armoury
11th March 2022, 11:18 AM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
Here come those Germans again
So, are we perhaps looking at the importation of certain skills to revitalise the industry?
As business declined, we would see more and more craftsmen retiring and no new apprenticeships being...
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Forum: European Armoury
10th March 2022, 10:19 PM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
Toledo
Yes, Fernando, it seems more appropriate to mark these men as moving out of their own volition rather than being sent-for.
ps
call me Keith.
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Forum: European Armoury
10th March 2022, 01:05 PM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
Toledo and Germans
Thank-you Fernando.
I have found it unwise to trust everything in Bezdek's research absolutely but these are the details he gives based on Solingen parish and guild records; these are the departure...
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Forum: European Armoury
6th March 2022, 03:01 PM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
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Forum: European Armoury
6th March 2022, 10:41 AM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
Solingen/Germany/Toledo research
Can anyone point me in the direction of metallurgical research done to ascertain the reasons why Solingen/Germany produced such consistently superior blades?
Equally, can anyone explain why Toledo...
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Forum: European Armoury
25th February 2022, 10:50 PM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
hard work
Shotley Bridge (my forte) could produce 34 blades a day (more if they took Sunday off - which I am sure they did) with only one forging shop: Oley was the only forger there, but he obviously had...
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Forum: European Armoury
23rd February 2022, 12:25 AM
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Replies: 16
Views: 2,607
Solingen steel
Thank-you efrahjalt.
I initially, and mistakenly, assumed that as the Solingen smiths took such great interest in the Damascus smithing techniques, which were supposedly acquired from the science of...
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