Qajar or Afsharid ?

DavidFriedman · 5th April 2021, 08:19 AM

Greetings friends,
I was wondering if anyone may be able to help me determine if this Persian straight sword with unique rounded Zulfiqar tip was made during the Qajar Dynasty or the Afsharid Dynasty. These swords, to my understanding are associated with the Qajar era, but were these ever fashioned during the slightly earlier Afsharid era?

The koftgari on the blade is an inscription of Quranic verse. I wish I could read it.

Any thoughts on this piece would be most highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Ian · 6th April 2021, 06:57 AM

Hi David,

Interesting sword. Would you please post a picture of the entire sword. This is a requirement for submitting a request for translation of an inscription (as stated in the "sticky" relating to translations, towards the top of the Ethnographic contents page). You will also get much better answers to your various questions with a picture of the entire sword.

Thanks.

Ian

DavidFriedman · 6th April 2021, 07:19 AM

Hi Ian, my apologies. I’ve been having a hard time posting. Some time delay from entry to appearance on the forum. Also I need to shrink the images I have, rather large.

Will add more pics of course.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Hi David,

Interesting sword. Would you please post a picture of the entire sword. This is a requirement for submitting a request for translation of an inscription (as stated in the "sticky" relating to translations, towards the top of the Ethnographic contents page). You will also get much better answers to your various questions with a picture of the entire sword.

Thanks.

Ian

DavidFriedman · 6th April 2021, 07:25 AM

Here are the added photos.

Kubur · 6th April 2021, 09:07 AM

From what I see it's 99% Qajar 19th c.

It will be 100% if the whole sword is shown for confirmation.

Maybe with round tip, it'll be Indian or Indo-Persian...

Battara · 7th April 2021, 01:31 AM

Please show a picture of the whole piece so that you may gain more feedback.

DavidFriedman · 8th April 2021, 09:31 AM

Here is a full picture of my Persian sword. It had been described as a Qajar Dynasty piece. But some of the floral koftgari on it seems to me to be similar to a Shamshir attributed to the Afsharid era. So if anyone has specific insight on the possibility, I would be most appreciative.

Thanks.

DavidFriedman · 9th April 2021, 12:37 AM

Hi, it’s taking 8-24 hours to upload my posts for some reason. Here is another picture of the entire Persian sword.

Thanks

DavidFriedman · 9th April 2021, 07:12 AM

A full length picture. Thanks

Oliver Pinchot · 14th April 2021, 08:23 PM

It is Qajar, made in the reign of Nasr al-Din Shah (r. 1848-1896.)
He was responsible for the neoclassicism in arms and armor and generally, for Iran's cultural revival.

5th April 2021, 08:19 AM	#1
DavidFriedman Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 113	Qajar or Afsharid ? Greetings friends, I was wondering if anyone may be able to help me determine if this Persian straight sword with unique rounded Zulfiqar tip was made during the Qajar Dynasty or the Afsharid Dynasty. These swords, to my understanding are associated with the Qajar era, but were these ever fashioned during the slightly earlier Afsharid era? The koftgari on the blade is an inscription of Quranic verse. I wish I could read it. Any thoughts on this piece would be most highly appreciated. Thanks. Attached Images

6th April 2021, 06:57 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,209	Moderator's comment Hi David, Interesting sword. Would you please post a picture of the entire sword. This is a requirement for submitting a request for translation of an inscription (as stated in the "sticky" relating to translations, towards the top of the Ethnographic contents page). You will also get much better answers to your various questions with a picture of the entire sword. Thanks. Ian

6th April 2021, 07:25 AM	#4
DavidFriedman Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 113	More pictures Here are the added photos. Attached Images

8th April 2021, 09:31 AM	#7
DavidFriedman Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 113	Full picture Here is a full picture of my Persian sword. It had been described as a Qajar Dynasty piece. But some of the floral koftgari on it seems to me to be similar to a Shamshir attributed to the Afsharid era. So if anyone has specific insight on the possibility, I would be most appreciative. Thanks. Attached Images

9th April 2021, 12:37 AM	#8
DavidFriedman Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 113	More pics Hi, it’s taking 8-24 hours to upload my posts for some reason. Here is another picture of the entire Persian sword. Thanks Attached Images

6th April 2021, 09:07 AM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	From what I see it's 99% Qajar 19th c. It will be 100% if the whole sword is shown for confirmation. Maybe with round tip, it'll be Indian or Indo-Persian...

7th April 2021, 01:31 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,229	Please show a picture of the whole piece so that you may gain more feedback.

9th April 2021, 07:12 AM	#9
DavidFriedman Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 113	A full length picture. Thanks Attached Images

14th April 2021, 08:23 PM	#10
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	It is Qajar, made in the reign of Nasr al-Din Shah (r. 1848-1896.) He was responsible for the neoclassicism in arms and armor and generally, for Iran's cultural revival.