Turkish shamshir-strange mark
 

Here is a Turkish shamshir for viewing, It has a 33 inch wootz blade, almost 39 inches overall with a rhino horn handle. It has a very strange mark of inlaid silver dots that appears to read as 1612. I'm sure this can't be a date, so does anyone have any ideas, like maybe, although unlikely, an armory number.....Dave.

No one has any idea about this strange inlay???......Dave.

Vary nice shamshir Daves. I can't say anything about this number, but can you tell us if there are tughra seals on silver parts?

It isn't a date. This is a short Arabic inscription which appears to read, YA FALAH! (O Success!) Very nice saber, probably dates to the latter 18th century.

Sylektis: No, there are no tughra seals. From what i can see, they are just flower type of engraved decoration............Dave.

In the second photo from the top, there is a tugra visible on the upper langet of the guard (on the grip side.) They were used as silver marks in that context.

Oliver: You are right. I totally missed it because it's so small.........Dave.