[ALEX]

Originally Posted by ariel

..... ... But Astvatsaturyan shows an identical one as an example of the Amuzgi work. The Caucasian swordmakers produced a variety of blade patterns, some specific for the area, some homage to Iranian or Turkish. Wootz was made there by several masters, specifically Elizarov. The Persian lion and cartouches presented no problem for them, just like for the modern Georgian masters:-)

I seriously doubt the Caucasian bladesmiths were producing high quality Persian-like wootz quality blades like this, especially that complex. Most of them are "trade" blades from Persia or Syria, furnished in local tastes. The same for cartouches - obviously they were/are copied, but the quality of the chiseling often tells the origin.