Ah,
Here's the link, its described as American.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/...0%26um%3D1

No worries,
Morgan

http://www.plamb.com/mainlinks.php?id=88

So, aside from this one being obviously described and previously owned by Neumann, what differences between this and yours show? What elements have we discussed so far and what makes yours less likely to be actually just like this one aside from some pretty superficial characteristics.

It seems a bit like we're going in circles.

Cheers

GC

Argh. The ATARN home page:

http://www.atarn.org/frameindex.htm

has the organization's name written in many different languages and scripts, and none of them bear more than a passing resemblance to the writing on your sword. A very frustrating search indeed.

Your search is much appreciated, Lafayette!

"White Tiger" wrote me with this:
"That quasi arabic look reminds me more than anything else of symbols common in those old treatises. Unfortunately each alchemist modified symbols to suit himself and assigned meanings to them that were completely personal, so finding out what the inscription means is most unlikely."

Going in circles, Glen?
I prefer to think of it as "reflecting", which has an intuitive element to it. It was great to talk about the sword and I actually found it useful (as part of the process) posting and looking at similar swords. I always like it when people post swords of theirs that are along the lines of whatever sword you are discussing or presenting. We actually had a lot of correspondence. going on. Then, when I went home and perused Neuman again, everything really came together, as far as satisfying the mind (an endless task) goes anyway.

Those patterns you listed were on the money! I had looked at some of the same ones earlier but this time they made much more of an impression after talking/typing about them yesterday. Especially 163, 168, 302, 311 and 312 . I felt I had a much more inate feel for them. I think you are right about the sword being european and the silver taped hilt seems very english to me. I think of this sword as 18th century and having come to really love swords from that period, I am still amazed that I actually own some! I feel very privledged to be able to hold these beautiful touchstones to history and the history of a particular martial art that I have practiced for years as well.
This thread has really increased my appeciation of the sword. Which is exactly what I wanted. And of course to share and talk with others who dig old swords! :cool: I'll post new pics of it soon!


Peace, Love, Swords!

This is from Sa'ar Nudel:

"Hi Morgan
I went through your thread regarding this sword.
I also got an answer - this IS Arabic script for sure, there is one letter set that exists only in Arabic, but there are no composed words, so no meaning. I can send you a transcript.
Very interesting - the blade does look like Georgian blades and also like a Bedouin trade blade - best blades were imported from Hungary & Germany. Clone blades were crudely made locally. I collect Bedouin Sabers for research (so far I have 8) - one of them is basically a Georgian blade & scabbard, fitted with a simple Bedouin hilt. The blade, though highly resembles your blade in overall shape, is marked with a long line of Gurdas (European "eyelash" mark, very famous).
So I guess the plot thickens...
Sa'ar

This thread is very entertaining. I'm seeing all sorts of input from many very knowledgeable people and I'm learning quite a lot as I read along. This is an excellent mystery. Now I hear that the writing is Arabic, the blade is most likely Georgian, and the hilt might be Bedouin!

I don't think we have established that the hilt is Bedouin.

Perhaps your Georgian guess wasn't so far off. The first thing I thought of when I looked at the script was Armenian.

http://indoeuro.bizland.com/project/script/armen.gif

Maybe someone labeling the sword accidentally wrote American instead of Armenian ;-)

Here is a pic of some W. European Talismanic writing on a blade. It has the traditional moon theme.

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Here is a close up of a guard that has astrological symbols on it

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