I am to object - external mark is made by sword (8)
I believe the answer is:
scimitar
'made by sword' is the definition.
'scimitar' can be an answer for 'sword' (scimitar is a kind of sword). I'm unsure of the 'made by' bit.
'i am to object external mark' is the wordplay.
'i am' becomes 'I'm' (contraction).
'to object' becomes 'it' (pronoun for an inanimate object).
'external' is an insertion indicator (I've seen this in other clues).
'mark' becomes 'scar' (mark left by an injury).
'im'+'it'='imit'
'imit' inserted inside 'scar' is 'SCIMITAR'.
'is' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scimitar that I've seen before include "Eastern sword" , "Type of sword with curved blade" , "one that is very sharp" , "Curved oriental sabre" , "Short curved oriental sword" .)