Karabela???????

ariel · 24th January 2005, 04:31 AM

This one was just bought for a LOT of money by some Polish patriot who obviously wanted to have the sword of his ancestors hanging on the wall of his living room.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3776599168

My only problem with it (besides the fact that it is a LOT of money!) is that it is NOT a Polish karabela at all and never went even close to Mazovian bogs, Warsaw or even Lviv....
This is, IMHO, an Arabian saif: the crossguard and the embossed brass sheathing over the scabbard are giveaways, and the handle is also Arabian and not the Polish-Hungarian stylized eagle head that is characteristic of Karabelas.
Should I send a polite note to the happy buyer and congratulate him on his new field of interest?
Are there any dissenting opinions re. the origin of this (admittedly lovely, but grossly misrepresented and overpriced) sword?

Rivkin · 24th January 2005, 05:28 AM

Well, I'm a kindjal guy, so the hell I know, but it looks like Yemen to me.

Jeff D · 24th January 2005, 06:08 AM

Arab or possibly Ottoman. See a similar one on Pg. 133 of Tirri's book.

Jeff

erlikhan · 24th January 2005, 08:25 PM

i agree. Seems Arabian, but to determine which Arab country,exceeds my knowledge. About the price, if the scabbard is true gold gilded , it could be an important plus,not? i couldnt understand if it is or not from the pictures.

RSWORD · 25th January 2005, 04:03 AM

I think the blade very well could be E European but it would not be uncommon to find a Hungarian or Polish blade mounted up in an Arabian Saif. When I first saw this auction I also felt it was a very nice Saif with a good E European blade but probably not a Polish Karabela.

derek · 25th January 2005, 10:55 PM

This sword looks a lot like one I got from Yemeni dealer in the UAE (bottom blade). My blade is a Wilkinson from Ethiopian, complete with Amharic script. Looks like I got a steal.

24th January 2005, 04:31 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Karabela??????? This one was just bought for a LOT of money by some Polish patriot who obviously wanted to have the sword of his ancestors hanging on the wall of his living room. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3776599168 My only problem with it (besides the fact that it is a LOT of money!) is that it is NOT a Polish karabela at all and never went even close to Mazovian bogs, Warsaw or even Lviv.... This is, IMHO, an Arabian saif: the crossguard and the embossed brass sheathing over the scabbard are giveaways, and the handle is also Arabian and not the Polish-Hungarian stylized eagle head that is characteristic of Karabelas. Should I send a polite note to the happy buyer and congratulate him on his new field of interest? Are there any dissenting opinions re. the origin of this (admittedly lovely, but grossly misrepresented and overpriced) sword?

24th January 2005, 08:25 PM	#4
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	i agree. Seems Arabian, but to determine which Arab country,exceeds my knowledge. About the price, if the scabbard is true gold gilded , it could be an important plus,not? i couldnt understand if it is or not from the pictures. Last edited by erlikhan; 25th January 2005 at 01:05 AM.

25th January 2005, 10:55 PM	#6
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Looks a LOT like this one.......... This sword looks a lot like one I got from Yemeni dealer in the UAE (bottom blade). My blade is a Wilkinson from Ethiopian, complete with Amharic script. Looks like I got a steal.

24th January 2005, 05:28 AM	#2
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	Well, I'm a kindjal guy, so the hell I know, but it looks like Yemen to me.

24th January 2005, 06:08 AM	#3
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Arab or possibly Ottoman. See a similar one on Pg. 133 of Tirri's book. Jeff

25th January 2005, 04:03 AM	#5
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	I think the blade very well could be E European but it would not be uncommon to find a Hungarian or Polish blade mounted up in an Arabian Saif. When I first saw this auction I also felt it was a very nice Saif with a good E European blade but probably not a Polish Karabela.