Weird numbers on a shamshir

erlikhan · 26th October 2009, 06:51 PM

What do you think? With steel handguard and grip strap, with razor sharp,strong backed quite heavy blade it looks like a handsome shamshir. However, on both sides there are these figures. Some da Vinci code, or the artist used the blade like a notebook while he was studying elementary level maths?

Dom · 26th October 2009, 08:16 PM

Hi
truely, the sequency is strange

the script form seems 19th

à +

Dom

fearn · 26th October 2009, 08:50 PM

Not some sort of accession or armory numbering?

erlikhan · 27th October 2009, 02:26 PM

Existence of a sequency makes me ignore armoury numbering possibility. Plus it would be a too many digit number. Overall it doesnt make any sense to me. I wouldnt care if I saw it on a paper,but who would spend time to spoil a good blade and engrave a beautiful but nonsense inscription on hard steel? I hope to learn if the sequency means anything special in any culture or religion.

Jim McDougall · 27th October 2009, 10:49 PM

Locker combination?

Seriously though, as noted these numbers seem out of line and inconsistant with armouries or inventories, which typically had some type of stamp with symbol or marking it seems. This blade seems very much like European cavalry sabre blades of early 19th century, and as is well known, European officers favored these Ottoman style 'mameluke' hilts. It seems that this period would be in close proximity with talismanic numerology which was in varying degree popular through the 18th century, and well known earlier as well. Perhaps these numbers are used in such a cryptic arrangement with this being a European officers sword.

Alternatively, the Ottoman army was becoming quite European influenced during the 19th century, perhaps this might be a sabre with a European blade from that circumstance.

Best regards,
Jim

ariel · 27th October 2009, 11:34 PM

Interestingly, the crossguard is made of iron, while the Ottomans favoured brass or ( in the Arabian parts of the Empire) they used a lot of silver.

26th October 2009, 06:51 PM	#1
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	Weird numbers on a shamshir What do you think? With steel handguard and grip strap, with razor sharp,strong backed quite heavy blade it looks like a handsome shamshir. However, on both sides there are these figures. Some da Vinci code, or the artist used the blade like a notebook while he was studying elementary level maths? Attached Images Last edited by erlikhan; 27th October 2009 at 02:19 PM.

26th October 2009, 08:16 PM	#2
Dom Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paris (FR*) Cairo (EG) Posts: 1,142	Hi truely, the sequency is strange the script form seems 19th à + Dom

26th October 2009, 08:50 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Not some sort of accession or armory numbering?

27th October 2009, 02:26 PM	#4
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	Existence of a sequency makes me ignore armoury numbering possibility. Plus it would be a too many digit number. Overall it doesnt make any sense to me. I wouldnt care if I saw it on a paper,but who would spend time to spoil a good blade and engrave a beautiful but nonsense inscription on hard steel? I hope to learn if the sequency means anything special in any culture or religion.

27th October 2009, 10:49 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	Locker combination? Seriously though, as noted these numbers seem out of line and inconsistant with armouries or inventories, which typically had some type of stamp with symbol or marking it seems. This blade seems very much like European cavalry sabre blades of early 19th century, and as is well known, European officers favored these Ottoman style 'mameluke' hilts. It seems that this period would be in close proximity with talismanic numerology which was in varying degree popular through the 18th century, and well known earlier as well. Perhaps these numbers are used in such a cryptic arrangement with this being a European officers sword. Alternatively, the Ottoman army was becoming quite European influenced during the 19th century, perhaps this might be a sabre with a European blade from that circumstance. Best regards, Jim

27th October 2009, 11:34 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Interestingly, the crossguard is made of iron, while the Ottomans favoured brass or ( in the Arabian parts of the Empire) they used a lot of silver.