#naval sabre

[ltwilliammowett]

A French naval officer's sabre of the ‘Petit Montmorency’ type, late 18th - early 19th century

[awallofswords]

The £100 Trafalgar Sword from Lloyd's of London.

More on the Lloyds Patriotic fund: http://www.lloydsswords.com

@ltwilliammowett

[mapsgirl]

The Best Things To Experience in Buffalo

Buffalo is rich in history, culture, and architectural beauty. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, history buff, or sports fan, Buffalo offers a variety of attractions that cater to diverse interests. Here are some of the best things to do in Buffalo, New York. Explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House is a masterpiece of Prairie School…

[blue-and-gilt]

17th Century Shell Guard Broadsword

There's something unique about holding a piece of history that dates back four hundred years. They have a presence, a gravitas that, more recent swords lack.

So, what is this sword? The Royal Armouries simply describes the examples in their collection as an early 17th-century broadsword with shell guard (Object IX.172). While Ewart Oakeshott in his book "European Weapons and Armour - From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution" describes two types of swords with related characteristics: the German sabre, circa 1540s, with forward and rear quillons, a knuckle bow, and a distinctive shell guard covering the outside of the hand. Plus, the second type of Sinclair hilt, with its one-piece S-shaped crossguard forming the rear quillon and knuckle guard.

At the same time, the Dutch sword historian J.P. Puype describes these as a Solingen horseman's sword of the classical type: "The problem with this type of sword is that so far there has never been written a proper monography on them and that opinions on them are practically always unsubstantiated by evidence. The other problem is that they are often seen as naval but there is more evidence to tell us that they were army swords.

I think that I may be the first arms historian who identified these swords as cavalry swords, but I have to admit that in publications prior to 1998 I (too) identified them exclusively as shipboard cutlasses.

In the 1990s I became increasingly involved in writing publications and doing museum exhibitions on Prince Maurice and the new Dutch so-called  States Army of the 1590s. In the course of this involvement I analysed the pictures by Jacob de Gheyn made during the 1590s of the infantry drill and cavalry drills. These infantry pictures were published in a book in 1607, although we know that its manuscript was already in existence c. 1595-c.1597, but was withheld by Prince Maurice for reasons of security.

Simultaneously, a book on the cavalry exercise was conceived, but its publication was permanently withheld by Maurice, partly for security reasons, partly also because Prince Maurice in 1597 or 1598 abolished the lancers.

Among the cavalry prints the heavy cavalry has as its chief weapon the lance (it was abolished in 1597 or 1598 in favor of the wheel-lock pistol, and the lancers became 'pistoliers'). However, the light cavalry is armed with swords with shell-guard hilts.

So we can only prove that the seashell-hilted sword apparently originated in the cavalry. The earliest proof that I have of its maritime use is after 1700. I do not know how to explain the picture of the French privateer Lolonois of 1684 (the year of appearance of the original Dutch edition) who is armed with a seashell-hilted cutlass with a curved blade with clipped point.

One other of the very few other 17th C pictures I know in which appear  what seem to be shell-hilted cutlasses is on the title-page of a book published in 1673 (see the attachment). There is a heap of apparently seashell-hilted cutlasses in the foreground but it is clear that the hilts are rendered in a wrong version. The blades, however, are curved and with clipped point.

In or before 1978 the wreck of a flatboat was found in the lake what once was the Zuyderzee. This boat was full of arms and military equipment, destined for what were army outposts on islands against a possible French invasion in 1672. Among the cargo were four swords with seashell guards and straight blades. In the attachment are two archaeological drawings.

All this does not bring us definitive answers to the problem when we view the portrait of the French privateer l'Olonnais (spelled as Lolonois) in which he is holding a seashell-hilted cutlass with curved blade with clipped point. I do not know of the actual existence of such a sword - nowhere in the world. I dare not go so far as to suggest that swords of this type may be artists' impressions only but somehow it does feel that way!"

Jan Piet Puype.

In short, these are another variation of military broadsword that would have been common amongst the military armies of the first half of the 17th-century. While it is appealing to look at the portrait of the French privateer Lolonois as evidence that these swords have a naval connection, the unfortunate reality is that the artist likely never met his subject. Furthermore, he made a notable error in the sword's detailing; with the quillon and knucklebow reversed, the sword becomes impractical to wield. In conclusion, we see an artist's impression, not a historical representation.

In German and Dutch references, these swords are called houdegen or houwdegen, which translates to 'hewing sword'. Although short, their weight and broad, double-edged lenticular blades give these swords a no-nonsense functionality. A single fuller runs for the first 20% starting at the guard. The ricasso is a square block with two smaller side fullers running along its length. On both sides of the ricasso is a maker mark of a crown above an O and T. According to the Royal Armouries, this is the mark of a Spanish smith. However, I have seen one text attribute this to a Solingen swordsmith. Given that the blade has ME FECIT and SOLINGEN (Solingen Made Me) stamped into the fuller, it seems more likely that the stamp is either a copy of the Spanish maker mark or one unique to a Solingen blade maker.

The grip retains its' original wire and Turks head knots at each end. It has a pear-shaped pommel with a tang button on the top for the peen. Although I can't be sure, I expect the pommel is hollow, like we see on the Amsterdam Walloon swords.

The S-shaped crossguard and shell guard are two separate pieces that appear to have been forge-welded together. While the hilt and pommel on my sword are solid, the guard is loose. There probably used to be a fabric or leather washer between the blade shoulder and guard to hold them tight. On the inside of the guard, it continues to cover the thumb, curling around on itself to form a thumb ring. This combination of knuckle bow and shell guard offers the wielder a lot of hand protection.

Stats: Overall Length - 870 mm Blade Length - 725 mm Point of Balance - 90 mm Grip Length - 140 mm Inside Grip Length - 80 mm Weight - 900 grams

[usafphantom2]

14 February 1952. First flight of the North American FJ-2 Fury. Naval prototype version of the F-86 Sabre with a reinforced chassis, brake hook, launch cable attachment points and a folding wing. Powered by a General Electric J47-GE-2 engine.

@ron_eisele via X

[demi-pixellated]

Freij

Freije Known for their fringed ears, thick dark hair, and natural resistance the frigid temperatures of the north. Freije seals take on a white or pale-blue hue, contrasting against their dark skin. Typically asymmetrical and unique to each individual, they have been widely (and fittingly) remarked as resembling snowflakes and frost, consisting of radial pattern of crystal-like markings.

Matriar The military and naval prowess of Freij is recognized across Elothia, and its Matriar reflects that. As Leader and Admiral, She dons the military vestments of the region, although ornamented and embroidered to indicated Her regal station. She also carries on Her person, just as the officers under Her, a dagger and sabre. Typically these would be highly decorated commissioned works, much like Her chokha and kalpak. However the current Matriar has forgone the tradition, preferring to don and wield the standard arms of her men. As Impero recently saw a Patris leave the throne, Freij is likely to see one on theirs in the coming centuries as the current Matriar has only one son and seemingly no interest in bearing another child.

Czars State officials and Generals to Her Majesty. Much like the Matriar, Czars are outfitted in military garb and keep a dagger and sabre on their person. While still decorated to denote them as officers of import, it is not to the level of the Matriar.

Citizens Despite the high tolerance to the northern climate that they have become known for, Freije are born incredibly susceptible to the cold. Newborns are heavily swaddled in thick furs and kept indoors for the most of their first year. Even when younglings are finally able to be brought outdoors, they do so thoroughly bundled up, almost comically, in several layers of thick clothing and furs.

It's not until adolescense that the Freije's cold tolerance truly begin to build up. They begin to strip away their heavy coats, scarves and furs, and many, many, layers as the years proceed, and by their first century the typical Freije can brush off the low temperatures with far lighter apparel. To the outsider experiencing the bite of Freij's Spring chill for the first time, they may even look underdressed.

In opposition to this are the region's wealthier merchants, barons, and city officials. Setting themselves up at higher altitudes, far above the crowded docks and fish markets, even their natural resistance isn't quite enough to keep out the colder mountain winds. As a result, upper class Draken remain relatively bundled up well after maturing - a fact that's earned the ridicule of many common folk, thinking it make them look childish.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

SLDF Naval Assets, as of Operation TOUCHDOWN, 2153

SLS McKenna's Pride, McKenna-class battleship, SLDF Flagship (Commanding General's Squadron)

SLS Zughoffer Weir, McKenna-class battleship

SLS Bismarck, Texas-class battleship

SLS Ukraine, Texas-class battleship

SLS Chieftain, Liberation (Stefan Amaris)-class battleship (reactivated from museum ship status)

SLS Galactica, Dreadnought-class Battleship (reactivated from museum ship status; extensive refit)

SLS Quicksilver Mongoose, Du Shi Wang-class battleship (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Great Coyote Spirit, Nightlord-class battleship (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Warspite, Nightlord-class battleship

SLS Barham, Monsoon-class battleship (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Kumamoto, Monsoon-class battleship (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Shizuoka, Monsoon-class battleship (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Enterprise, Enterprise-class supercarrier

SLS Seoul, Samarkand-class carrier (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Beijing, Samarkand-class carrier (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Corinth, Thera-class carrier

SLS Blood Drinker, Black Lion-class battlecruiser

SLS Arctic Wolf, Black Lion-class battlecruiser

SLS Dark Wolf, Black Lion-class battlecruiser

SLS Jade Aerie, Black Lion-class battlecruiser

SLS White Aerie, Black Lion-class battlecruiser

SLS Streaking Mist, Black Lion-class battlecruiser

SLS Emerald Talon II, Black Lion-class battlecruiser

SLS Tripitz, Black Lion-class battlecruiser (hulk recovered from New Vandenburg system in return for concessions to Taurian Concordat; repaired and refitted)

SLS Bloody Fang, Cameron-class battlecruiser

SLS Turkina's Pride, Cameron-class battlecruiser

SLS Invincible, Tharkad-class battlecruiser

SLS Blue Talon, Aegis-class heavy cruiser

SLS Jade Talon, Aegis-class heavy cruiser

SLS Red Talon, Aegis-class heavy cruiser

SLS Gold Talon, Aegis-class heavy cruiser

SLS Chaos Sailor, Aegis-class heavy cruiser

SLS White Terror, Aegis-class heavy cruiser

SLS Auspicium, Aegis-class heavy cruiser

SLS Manassas, Aegis-class heavy cruiser (experimental refit)

SLS Talismantia, Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruiser (leased from Clan Sea Fox)

SLS Dire Wolf, Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruiser

SLS Accalia, Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruiser

SLS Ciaravella, Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruiser

SLS Soyal, Soyal-class heavy cruiser

SLS Victoria Ward, Liberator-class light cruiser

SLS Jerome Winson, Liberator-class light cruiser

SLS Surprise, Kimagure Surprise-class pursuit cruiser

SLS Admiral Russell Nga, Kimagure-class pursuit cruiser (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Vision of Truth, Potemkin-class troop cruiser

SLS Renown, Potemkin-class troop cruiser

SLS Abyssal, Potemkin-class troop cruiser (leased from Clan Sea Fox)

SLS Bonaventure, Potemkin-class troop cruiser (leased from Raven Alliance)

SLS Eden Rose, Potemkin-class troop cruiser (leased from Raven Alliance)

SLS Okami, Lola III-class destroyer

SLS Caleuche, Lola III-class destroyer (leased from Clan Sea Fox)

SLS Ranger, Lola III-class destroyer

SLS Emerald Tornado, Whirlwind-class destroyer

SLS Jade Tornado, Whirlwind-class destroyer

SLS Sabre Cat, Essex-class destroyer

SLS The Iowa, Essex-class destroyer

SLS Abundantia, Essex-class destroyer

SLS Deathblow, Essex-class destroyer

SLS Manchester, Suffren-class destroyer

SLS Queen Lynx, York-class destroyer

SLS Brimstone, York-class destroyer (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Exodus Avenger, York-class destroyer (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Exodus Crusader, York-class destroyer (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Exodus Sentinel, York-class destroyer (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Nebulous, York-class destroyer (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS The Protector, York-class destroyer (recovered from Clan Homeworlds mothball fleet during Operation PICKPOCKET)

SLS Rogue, Congress-class frigate

SLS Fire Crest, Congress-class frigate

SLS Kerensky's Pride, Congress-class frigate

SLS Silver Merlin, Peregrine-class corvette

SLS Green Kestrel, Peregrine-class corvette

SLS Killing Blow, Vincent Mk42-class corvette

SLS Arm's Reach, Vincent Mk42-class corvette

SLS Simas Osis, Vincent Mk42-class corvette

SLS Liberator, Volga-class transport (leased from Clan Sea Fox)

SLS Megalodon, Volga-class transport (leased from Clan Sea Fox)

SLS Matahourua, Carrack-class transport (leased from Clan Sea Fox)

SLS Tethys, Carrack-class transport (leased from Clan Sea Fox)

SLS Far Star, Carrack-class transport

SLS Enlightened Path, Carrack-class transport

SLS Nebula, Carrack-class transport

SLS Glory Road, Carrack-class transport

SLS Blessed Vision, Carrack-class transport

SLS Pathfinder, Carrack-class transport

SLS Guiding Vision, Carrack-class transport

SLS Bright Star, Carrack-class transport

SLS Faithful Rite, Carrack-class transport

SLS Dover, Faslane-class yardship

SLS Necessitas, Faslane-class yardship

SLS Harmonia, Faslane-class yardship

SLS Glamorgan, Faslane-class yardship

SLS Clementia, Newgrange-class Yardship

[dangerousthingobservation]

Jay Sherlock has produced a companion volume to his AD Skyraider book published by Aero Research. See http://www.aeroresearchcds.com/book_shelf.htm for price and ordering information. As you might expect, the bulk of the monograph is devoted to the various versions of the Sabre, including the Canadian and Australian-built ones. Reviews of many of the F-86 kits are provided along with a listing of decals and aftermarket parts. One very useful section is devoted to a primer on Sabre/Fury wings. At least a couple of pages are devoted to each of the Fury types, listing both the recommended kit in each scale and the numerous changes required to create one from an F-86 kit. There are few illustrations, however, and an occasional error or omission. For example, the XFJ-2 windscreen was not the same as the F-86's. (I also think that the bulges under the wingtips of the XFJ-2 contained cameras to photograph the landing gear and tailhook, not flotation bags.) The FJ-2 inlet was slightly but notably different from the F-86's and the increase in depth of the FJ-3's inlet was in addition to the FJ-2 change. The FJ-3 was originally equipped with the barrier guard on the belly but it was subsequently deleted. The change to add external stiffening to the elevators isn't mentioned. The FJ-4 options list states that the vertical fin of the prototypes was 11 inches shorter than the prototypes (which I wasn't aware of) but not that 18 inches was clipped from each side of horizontal tail. As a result, the information and drawings provided here: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2009/10/fj-fury.html and here: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2011/04/fj23-fury-redux.html will still be of use to the modeler, as will the Ginter Naval Fighters monograph for the type being modeled. I am pleased to report that were a few revelations. For example, I had noted that the guns were removed from some FJ-4Bs and vents added to the aft end of the panel covering the gun bay but didn't know why. Jay states that the cannons on the left side were removed on some aircraft to allow installation of a back-up electrical generator. Joe Baugher provided details in his excellent series of posts on U.S. Navy airplanes: "During service, some FJ-4Bs had the port pair of 20-mm cannon removed so that a standby generator system could be installed. This standby generator provided power backup in case the main generator failed--without the backup it was nearly impossible to fly at night or under instrument conditions for more than a few minutes with only battery power. At the same time, the standard ejection seat was replaced by a Martin-Baker seat that provided the ability to eject safely at much lower altitudes" With respect to the cannon deletion, Dave Collier noted in an email: "In the period that I worked on FJ-4Bs (1962-64) our squadron had several aircraft with only two cannon. We were told the mod was part of the Bullpup installation but the backup generator installation seems to make more sense since you see lots of photos of A/C carrying Bullpups with the port guns installed." Dave also provided the following observation: "In photos of FJ-4Bs late in their service life you will find aircraft with bare metal in the area of the cannon blast tube panel. Paint was removed from this area after panels came apart during firing runs. The bare metal was consider necessary to help detect small panel cracks before severe damage was done. While stripping the panels I found that most had at least five coats of paint."

[cadmusfly]

New Year New Pinned Post

Hi! I'm Cad! It's most likely short for Cadmus (who was turned into a dragon) or Cadaeic (who ennumerates the digits of pi), but it could also be the Caddisfly (who weaves a cloak of trash), Cadmium (who paints in poisoned hues), or just Cad (the rogue and rascal).

I’m a semi-closeted transmasc Australian above the age of 25. I've been around on Tumblr for a while on and off with various blogs and sideblogs.

I'm a dilettante who dabbles in many fields like writing (AO3 account here), shitty drawing, programming, painting tiny miniatures, generative AI (I help run an ethical AI art group at @are-we-art-yet!), rambling and others.

I'm currently very into the Napoleonic Era and men in colourful uniforms and tight breeches holding muskets and sabres. You will see a lot of 26 Eight Year Olds Napoleon's marshals here, as well as fictional Englishmen on sailing ships.

Other interests include creative writing in general and theorycrafting on worldbuilding, literary analysis, tabletop roleplaying games and game design, bad computer science jokes, cats and more. I only really tag the things I’ve experienced or am interested in.

I will be yelling into the void about whatever I feel like, which includes creative writing projects like fanfic or original writing like SbS, an urban fantasy about a zoomer undergrad befriending a ghostly naval captain.

Like pretty much everyone on this website I’m a little shy and anxious, but feel free to say hi! And if we've chatted, feel free to ask for my Discord!

-

Sideblogs Of Note

@shippostinginabottle - aesthetic, inspiration and reference blog

@teuthisdreams - Generative AI sideblog, mostly AI art of melting rainbow sailing ships - all created under the code of ethics of the leftist AI art collective Art We Art Yet?

@mostshipshape - a highly experimental weekly Age of Sail roleplaying game that ran for six weeks from 13/06/2022 to 5/08/2022 with public participation for polls

@armagnac-army - joke ask/roleplay blog portraying a parodic exaggeration of Marshal Jean Lannes, loyal and loud best friend of Emperor Napoleon, with guest appearances from the surly Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult

@murillo-enthusiast - uh oh Soult got one too

-

Additional Links

List of Perchance Random Generators I’ve Made

List of Sci Fi Short Stories that Set My Brain on Fire

Archive Of Our Own Link

Simple Stable 2.0 Link (free and open source interface for ai image generation using google's servers that I maintain)

Previous Pinned Post

-

If I unfollow or unmutual you, it’s nothing personal! Feel free to unfollow or unmutual me as well if you’d like!

This post is also a disclaimer that I will post whatever I feel like on this blog, so you have been warned!

[weergang]

All multiples of 3 😘 (just kidding) ((unless you're extremely bored))

Oh no you didn't! (not extremly, but i'll amuse you) (I skip the x5's)

3. what is your favorite season (or seasons)? why?

Each season has it's own neat things. I like winter, with snow, and ice, warm sweaters, holiday season, warm fire place. I like autumn, for the trees showing off their nicest colours, the storms raging to remind you that a human is a small thing. I like spring for the world to come a live, flowers, insects, birds, people. I like summer for the long evenings launching around.

6. what is a specific romantic thing you have experienced?

N/A

9. what is a clothing item that you want?

Hmm, I sometimes think I should get a new uniform, but the company I'm (currently) with doesn't use them, so that's maybe a bit useless. (I should've said naval sabre/cutlass at the trinket question in the previous ask I think now :P ) But a real cloak would be cool too.

12. what is something you’ve struggled a lot with?

Talking about stuff I struggle with.

18. favorite feature on another person?

Their humour

21. favorite animal(s)?

They're all cool! But orca's are just better.

24. favorite word? any language.

Is picking Gezellig to overdone by now?

27. favorite planet?

EARTH! It's the only one we can live on, and we can never afford to give up on it!

33. what compliments do you love to hear?

I'm a human male, we get compliments once every 15 years. They all matter. pay attention question designer, or haven't you been on tumblr that long?

36. what piercings do you want to get?

None.

39. do you play any instruments?

Nope, i'm not musically inclined.

42. chocolate or white chocolate?

Isn't white chocolate also chocolate? But I like dark chocolate, better. With hazelnuts if I can choose.

48. lamps or overhead lighting?

Lamps

[ltwilliammowett]

A Danish naval sabre pattern 1849 by Herazcek owned and used by Kay Reinhard (1871-1928)

[vlakandload]

When our step grandfather passed we were clearing out his things before we sold him and granny's house. Out in the garage, there wasn't all that much, just old tools and the like. But there ras one thing propped up against the wall in a little loft area. it was long and covered in rotting leather, but it was unmistakably a sword. Cue us grabbing it and bringing the ratty damaged thing home and finding out that the maker's mark and engravings on it placed it as a naval officer's dress sabre from the final days of the ottoman empire, from the time when Istanbul was still Constantinople.

(Not counting naturally occurring things like people and rocks and plants)

Consider things like coins, books, or family heirlooms! Tell me about it in the tags!

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.15 (before 1950)

994 – Major Fatimid victory over the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of the Orontes. 1440 – Gilles de Rais, one of the earliest known serial killers, is taken into custody upon an accusation brought against him by Jean de Malestroit, Bishop of Nantes. 1530 – Appearance of the miraculous portrait of Saint Dominic in Soriano in Soriano Calabro, Calabria, Italy; commemorated as a feast day by the Roman Catholic Church 1644–1912. 1556 – Departing from Vlissingen, ex-Holy Roman Emperor Charles V returns to Spain. 1762 – Seven Years' War: Battle of Signal Hill. 1776 – American Revolutionary War: British forces land at Kip's Bay during the New York Campaign. 1789 – The United States "Department of Foreign Affairs", established by law in July, is renamed the Department of State and given a variety of domestic duties. 1794 – French Revolutionary Wars: Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) sees his first combat at the Battle of Boxtel during the Flanders Campaign. 1795 – Britain seizes the Dutch Cape Colony in southern Africa to prevent its use by the Batavian Republic. 1812 – The Grande Armée under Napoleon reaches the Kremlin in Moscow during the failed French invasion of Russia. 1812 – War of 1812: A second supply train sent to relieve Fort Harrison is ambushed in the Attack at the Narrows. 1813 – Followers of the Eight Trigram Sect loyal to Lin Qing attack the Forbidden City in a failed attempt to oust the Jiaqing Emperor of the Qing dynasty. 1816 – HMS Whiting runs aground on the Doom Bar. 1820 – Constitutionalist revolution in Lisbon, Portugal. 1821 – The Captaincy General of Guatemala declares independence from Spain. 1830 – The Liverpool to Manchester railway line opens; British MP William Huskisson becomes the first widely reported railway passenger fatality when he is struck and killed by the locomotive Rocket. 1835 – HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reaches the Galápagos Islands. The ship lands at Chatham or San Cristobal, the easternmost of the archipelago. 1862 – American Civil War: Confederate forces capture Harpers Ferry, Virginia. 1873 – Franco-Prussian War: The last Imperial German Army troops leave France upon completion of payment of indemnity. 1894 – First Sino-Japanese War: Japan defeats Qing dynasty China in the Battle of Pyongyang. 1915 – New Culture Movement: Chen Duxiu establishes the New Youth magazine in Shanghai. 1916 – World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme. 1918 – World War I: Allied troops break through the Bulgarian defenses on the Macedonian front. 1935 – Nazi Germany adopts a new national flag bearing the swastika. 1940 – World War II: The climax of the Battle of Britain, when the Luftwaffe launches its largest and most concentrated attack of the entire campaign. 1942 – World War II: U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Wasp is sunk by Japanese torpedoes at Guadalcanal. 1944 – Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet in Quebec as part of the Octagon Conference to discuss strategy. 1944 – The Battle of Peleliu begins as the United States Marine Corps' 1st Marine Division and the United States Army's 81st Infantry Division hit White and Orange beaches under heavy fire from Japanese infantry and artillery. 1945 – A hurricane strikes southern Florida and the Bahamas, destroying 366 airplanes and 25 blimps at Naval Air Station Richmond. 1947 – Typhoon Kathleen hits the Kantō region, in Japan killing around 1,000-2,000 people. 1948 – The Indian Army captures the towns of Jalna, Latur, Mominabad, Surriapet and Narkatpalli as part of Operation Polo. 1948 – The F-86 Sabre sets the world aircraft speed record at 671 miles per hour (1,080 km/h).

[drmaqazi]

HOW TO PRAY WITR SALAH

Easy to follow step by step guide for a Muslim looking to learn how to properly perform Witr Salah according to Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

INTRODUCTION TO WITR PRAYER

The Witr Salah can be seen as problematic as the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught us different ways it could be completed. This has led to discussion of which is the right way to pray Witr?

IMPORTANCE OF WITR SALAH

Regarding the importance of Witr Salah, in a Sahih Hadith, The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Witr is a duty for every Muslim. [1]

The Holy Qur’an teaches us that the prayer can be a source to gain sabr (patience), it is a spiritual act which brings tranquility to the believer’s heart, and is a means of self purification:

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” 2:153

“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah . Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”

13:28

“Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.”  29:45

HOW TO PRAY WITR (STEP BY STEP

1. Begin with the proper Niyyah (intention) that you want to pray Salatul Witr and decide how many Rak’at you will offer. This is not mandatory to say but just to give you an idea,

“I intend to offer _____ Rak’ats of the Witr prayer.”

2. Pray the first two Rak’ats just like a regular Fard Salah. We cover this in our guide to learning how to pray Salah. In the third Rak’at of Witr prayer recite Surah Fatihah followed by a few verses from the Holy Qur’an, then say the Takbir “Allahu Akbar”. Instead of going down for Ruku’ raise your hands to your ear lobes and bring them back down to your naval. 

3. Here it is Sunnah to recite the Witr Du’a known as qunoot or Du’a-e-Qunoot.

There are two variations which are recorded and either is acceptable.

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

Allahumma ihdini feeman hadayt, wa a’fini fiman ‘aafait, wa tawallani feeman tawallait, wa baarik lee feemaa a’tait, wa qinee sharra maa qadait, fa innaka taqdee wa laa yuqda 'alaik, wa innahoo laa yadhhillu man walait, tabaarakta Rabbanaa wa ta’alait.

The above is generally the more accepted dua for Witr, the Hanafi commonly recite the version below. 

اَللَّهُمَّ إنا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِئْ عَلَيْكَ الخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ ئَّفْجُرُكَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّئ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعأئ وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشآئ عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالكُفَّارِ مُلْحَقٌ

[blue-and-gilt]

Georgian Light Cavalry Style Officers' Sabre by S. Brunn

This sword is another one of those obscure British Officer swords of the Georgian era that draw inspiration from the light cavalry style sabres. The scabbard locket is marked "BRUNN Sword Cutler to the Prince Regent 56 Caring Cross London" which dates the swords to between 1811 and 1820.

From 1800 to 1811 Brunn advertised himself with "By Appointment to H.R.H The Prince of Wales" which then changed to "The Prince Regent" from 1811 to 1820. He also changed address once, situated at 55 Caring Cross from 1799 - 1804, while his address was listed in 1805 as 56 Caring Cross.

Samuel Brunn was one of the premier sword cutlers of the Georgian era, which is reflected in the workmanship of this sword. Unfortunately there are no unique identifiers on the sword to give us a clue as to who first owned it, so we can only speculate that it was a well to do gentleman that wished to retain a solid blade.

The half lions head pommel is fairly typical of infantry officers swords of the time, but again there is evidence that this style was used by Naval, Artillery and some Cavalry officers as well. And the short blade length would certainly have been more practical on a ships' deck or behind an artillery battery than on a horse. One other clue is the absence of a frog stud on the scabbard locket, meaning that this sword was only ever intended to be carried on a belt (as opposed to a sword baldric). 

But as always, everything is pure speculation, there were just too many variations and quasi-military roles where it was the practice to wear a sword as part of the dress code to ever know for sure.

Stats: Overall Length - 810 mm Blade Length - 695 mm Curve - 57 mm Point of Balance - 130 mm Grip Length - 106 mm Inside Grip Length - 90 mm Weight - 720 grams