Kindjal(qama)s produced for dancing?

sakimori · 29th January 2017, 07:13 PM

Hello all,starting my first thread in this forum...
Really interested in this type of weapon and noticed that kindjal or qamas are often used in georgian dances,which makes me wonder:how do we know if this dagger is produced for dancing use,or concerned as a weapon might be used in defence need?
Act of throwing a dagger into ground seems often performed by dancers,which might be a challenge for steel crafts,so I suppose kindjal/qamas which have lesser angles of the blade tip won't do a good job in a show.(maybe I underrated the toughness of steel,a sharp blade might stuck too deep in the ground though)
It would be great that some members in this forum would share some informations if you have seen a sword dance in close distance,found some kindjal/qama pieces stated to be use in dance on internet,or heard anything about it.
(PS:sorry if this thread reads odd...poor english)

Roland_M · 6th February 2017, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sakimori

It would be great that some members in this forum would share some informations if you have seen a sword dance in close distance,found some kindjal/qama pieces stated to be use in dance on internet,or heard anything about it.
(PS:sorry if this thread reads odd...poor english)

Hello Sakimori,

a little late but here is a Georgian dancing dagger. Around 1950 made I think. The probably laminated blade with twistcore is thin, flexible and very sharp. The point is 90 degree bended, maybe from throwing in the ground.
And it is a good idea to avoid trouble with georgian dancers because this is really not just a poor theatre dagger.

best wishes,
Roland

ariel · 6th February 2017, 08:43 PM

"Dancing" kindjals were specifically created for exotic national ensembles, perhaps no earlier than 1930s.
Up until then, genuine village dances were conducted with real things. Georgians were poor enough to afford a trinket used only occasionally and for entertainment purposes.

And, BTW, the one shown here is a VERY modern creation. It will become an antique not earlier than 100 years from now:-)))))

ausjulius · 10th February 2017, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

"Dancing" kindjals were specifically created for exotic national ensembles, perhaps no earlier than 1930s.
Up until then, genuine village dances were conducted with real things. Georgians were poor enough to afford a trinket used only occasionally and for entertainment purposes.

And, BTW, the one shown here is a VERY modern creation. It will become an antique not earlier than 100 years from now:-)))))

its newer than that its post soviet era. any are not for dancing but actually souvenir knives that have a think blade unsharpened and held with seal wax to pass stupid soviet and russian cold weapon laws of the post ww2 period.

ariel · 11th February 2017, 10:55 AM

Just to elaborate on the last statement: in the former USSR one needed an official police permit to buy a hunting knife from a sports goods store. Each such knife was numbered and registered. That was allegedly to prevent criminal violence, but in reality to leave citizens unarmed. The Party, in its infinite wisdom, never thought about kitchen knives, pitchforks, broken bottles and a multitude of improvised or self-made sharpies. Eventually, the regime crumbled under its own weight, with no armed struggle. The Kindjal shown by Roland was made well after that:-)

sakimori · 17th February 2017, 02:11 PM

Thanks to you all!Thought i won't get any replys in this thread.Very educational.

Learn something new everyday in this forum!

29th January 2017, 07:13 PM	#1
sakimori Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 26	Kindjal(qama)s produced for dancing? Hello all,starting my first thread in this forum... Really interested in this type of weapon and noticed that kindjal or qamas are often used in georgian dances,which makes me wonder:how do we know if this dagger is produced for dancing use,or concerned as a weapon might be used in defence need? Act of throwing a dagger into ground seems often performed by dancers,which might be a challenge for steel crafts,so I suppose kindjal/qamas which have lesser angles of the blade tip won't do a good job in a show.(maybe I underrated the toughness of steel,a sharp blade might stuck too deep in the ground though) It would be great that some members in this forum would share some informations if you have seen a sword dance in close distance,found some kindjal/qama pieces stated to be use in dance on internet,or heard anything about it. (PS:sorry if this thread reads odd...poor english)

6th February 2017, 08:43 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	"Dancing" kindjals were specifically created for exotic national ensembles, perhaps no earlier than 1930s. Up until then, genuine village dances were conducted with real things. Georgians were poor enough to afford a trinket used only occasionally and for entertainment purposes. And, BTW, the one shown here is a VERY modern creation. It will become an antique not earlier than 100 years from now:-)))))

11th February 2017, 10:55 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Just to elaborate on the last statement: in the former USSR one needed an official police permit to buy a hunting knife from a sports goods store. Each such knife was numbered and registered. That was allegedly to prevent criminal violence, but in reality to leave citizens unarmed. The Party, in its infinite wisdom, never thought about kitchen knives, pitchforks, broken bottles and a multitude of improvised or self-made sharpies. Eventually, the regime crumbled under its own weight, with no armed struggle. The Kindjal shown by Roland was made well after that:-)

17th February 2017, 02:11 PM	#6
sakimori Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 26	Thanks to you all!Thought i won't get any replys in this thread.Very educational. Learn something new everyday in this forum!