Please try to identify this sword

[gserghiou]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum... and i am trying to identify this sword.
I don tknow anything about swords. I tried to post a thread on another forum but i had no luck really.

I will include photos of the sword and the details other people wanted to know.

This sword was found in Cyprus (island in east meditteranean)
if this will help with identifying it. The island has a very wealthy history of invaders both from European and Easten countries, dating back many centuries ago. Also the islands climate is pefrect for preserving metal, as we have sun most of the days of the year. (in case you are puzzled by the condition of the blade)

WEll, here are some of the 'specs':

1. Overall Length : 33 inched (including handle)
2. Handle Length : 4.3 inches
3. Width of blade : 2 inches (all along the sword )
4. Double edged (still a bit sharp )
5. IT has copper rivets to hold the handle(handle is gone) there were 3 for the handle but 1 is lost
6. The rivets are held in place by what it looks to be lead solder or something.
7. You can see some nicks on the blade, probably caused by in battle.
8. It is quite heavy (i cannot weight it, but i am 29 and when i hold it in my hand it gets heavy after a while.)
9. The cross-section shape of the blade is as i have roughly drawn it in my photos



If you need more info please contact me.

I hope you can date this sword and give me more info on its history


Thanks,

George

[Doug Marnick]

IMHO, if you say it is heavy, it was probably a ceremonial piece, not a weapon of combat. Good luck finding out.

[Shane Smith]

Hi George,
Could you re-register with your proper name before further posting in accordance with forum rules.Thanks and welcome to the forum <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[GaryGrzybek]

I have never seen anything like it. It's very crude looking compared to many original weapons I have seen.

Are you sure it's authentic?

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Looks to me like some type of training bayonet-maybe ww1 vintage?

[Scott Anderson]

I was thinking it looked like some of the cheap mass produced french trench knives from WWI that i've seen in various sources on that war.

[SzabolcsWaldmann]

I cannot identify the sword, but it sure looks like a WWI French Dessaint Knife. The color of the rust indicates that it should be around 80 or a 100 years old. The crosspiece is made up of 2 plates which show traces of mass fabrication.

I'd say its WW1 or 2.

Szabolcs

[gserghiou]

Hi All,
Thanks for your replies.
Many of you seem to think its a WW1 piece. a bayonet or a knife u say.

I think this is a bit too long for a bayonet or a knife and heavy.
It is 33 Inches ( approx 82 cm long ).
Have u got any photos of these knives or bayonets u mention so that i can compaer the two ???

Thanks a lot,

George

P.S MY name is George Serghiou that is why i am using gserghiou as my gin in name.

[Jaron Bernstein]

A lot of WW1 bayonets were very long. More like short swords by them selves than the more stubby modern bayonet.

[haydniuchisutton]

I have only a basic knowledge of WW1 but I have seen footage of the very long bayonets -classically the British 'sword bayonet'. Here's a picture of a British soldier with a rifle &amp; bayonet to give a general impression of the typical size:

[ChrisThies]

I agree with Aaron that - if authentic - this piece appears to be a training weapon. Akin to the British "Sword, Lead-Cutting, Pattern 1870".