[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by ariel

The "blade vs. handle" question is a very old one. Not only individual opinions, but the entire schools of thought and countries took sides in this argument.


Polish school is perhaps the most famous one to put the handle on the pedestal:not only does it reflect the national character ( blades are often imported, taken as trophies etc, but they are mounted locally and the handles follow tribal and national fashion) , but in their opinion dictates the entire technique of sword-wielding. Tough to argue with that :-)

One can recall Yemeni jambias with identical blades but strictly local handles

... but they still remain Jambias...

, and the amusing story by Gardner about changing attributions of krises ( same blade combined with different handles).

... but they still remain Kerises, whether Javanese or Buginese...

Saudi, North Arabian and Persian "shamshirs" differ from each other by the angle of the pommel and ( less so) by the wire around the langet.

... still remain Shamshirs... well, with the exception when they are sporting a Turkish hilt when they become Kilij... acording to some...

... Karabela is defined as such only when it sports an eagle-head handle.

... because the Karabela doesn't sport a characteristic blade (as they were fitted with Turkish Kilij blades, Russian sabre blades, German sabre blades, etc...

Yataghans can sport identical trade blades , but ethically-specific handles.

... yet remain Yataghans whether sporting large ear-shaped Balkanic bone hilts or sleek silver Greek hilts...

And I am not even getting into a slew of Indonesian swords with similar blades but different handles.



On the other hand, Oakeshott's typology is based exclusively on the blade.

And Pesh Kabz differs from "Karud"

... apparently Karud is an artificially created name, probably derived from the Persian Kard, an it is unknown to the people where that knife originates from...

mainly by the curvature of the blade, whereas "choora" differs from "karud" strictly by the handle.

... since the Choora is a particular type pf Pesh-kabz, he same way the Pala is a particular type of Kilij, sporting a wider blade...


I do not think we shall ever reach a compromise here :-)))

But that's the beauty of it, don't you think?! Debate, confrontation of ideas and exposing logical arguments are the source of wisdom and progress... and are more important even than reaching a compromise.

PS: I interposed some comments to your examples, in your posting.