About LEMA | Find | Projects | Documents | Research | Gallery

Blade (Scimitar type)

Deeply-curved unfullered single-edged blade ending in a spearpoint.

Length: 28½ inches (723.9 mm) from the shoulder to point; 31 inches (787.5 mm) around the curve.

The curved blade has a flat back with a single edge except for the last 10 inches (244 mm) and is etched in blue and gilt for half its length with designs including a crown, feathers and crossed pikes with a halberd - all interspersed with various floral motifs. The blade engravings differ from the usual Georgian type in that the Royal Cypher is omitted and instead appear the Prince of Wales' plumes surmounted by a Georgian crown.

The flat back of the edge is engraved: "J J Runkel, Solingen".

There is evidence of a repair about 3 inches (76.2 mm) from the point of the blade.

Solingen Blades
Solingen is located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, near Cologne, on the Wupper River opposite Remscheid. From the Middle Ages onwards it established itself as a major centre for the German cutlery industry. Solingen steel was used in making swords, knives, scissors, razors, and surgical instruments. It belonged to the duchy of Berg until 1600 and passed to Prussia in 1815.

The town had the necessary resources and geographical features to make it ideally located for access to abundant supplies of forest timber for charcoal-burning, rich deposits of iron ore, and a transport nexus through the mighty Rhine River. Initially, the proximity to the wealthy and thriving city of Cologne 20 miles away provided a ready marketplace for Solingen steel blades, but later it would be the port cities at the mouth of the Rhine that would prove to be essential in an international export trade.

Images reproduced courtesy of the National Museum of Australia.
© All rights reserved

Sword | Home