On the Aggregation of Caucasian Shashkas and Sabres on OBJET.art

Turkoman.khan · 23rd July 2025, 06:53 PM

Dear friends,

In case some of you haven't subscribed to the Open OBJET newsletter and missed the excitement — here's a long-anticipated leap forward in building the largest database dedicated to Caucasian arms and armor, now continuing with a major focus on shashkas and sabres.

Some true gems from private collections add depth and distinction to this growing domain.
Check out the article and enjoy the expanding expertise!

Link: https://objet.art/as/articles/687fa78af25e334201ff3691

Jim McDougall · 24th July 2025, 04:34 AM

Thank you for linking this article..brilliant! and well explains some of the mystery behind the shashka blades, which do seem to be largely imported prior to 1860s. However these imported blades did of course remain in circulation and were often remounted whether as heirloom or sometimes trophy examples.

What is interesting here is the modification of European cavalry blades to narrower and lighter versions in accord with the swordsmanship style of the Caucasian horseman.

While it is hard to definitively set classifications as a rule, these guidelines do suggest certain proclivities.

One thing that is interesting is the number of blades noted in many references as from Hungary and Styria. It has been my impression that Styria took much influence from Northern Italy, primarily Genoa. The most notable characteristic marking of course being the dentated arcs commonly known as 'sickle marks'. While these are typically associated with Genoa, they were used in variation throughout northern Italy, with Genoa a port of export. The blades among the commerce into trade networks went to Genoan ports of call, and stations in the Black Sea.
From here these blades filtered into the Caucasian regions, while also into Styrian regions.
In the Caucusus, this ubiquitous marking became termed GURDA, which while meaning in general, 'good blade' (loosely) I am unsure of the actual translation or etymology.

As far as 'Hungarian' blades, Jan Ostrowski ("Origins of the Polish Saber", 1979, p.222) notes, "...Hungarian blade production, if it existed at all, must have been very limited, for 17th century records tell of blade purchases from Styrian and Italian manufacturers and the great majority of surviving Hungarian sabers have Styrian and Genovese blades often marked with crescent moons and inscriptions GENOA, FRINGIA and FRANCIA".

QUESTION:
Over the years a very esoteric topic has come up occasionally, but now that most of those players writing have 'left the building'.....I wanted to pose this to you and colleagues well versed in Russian references:

That is THE TRANSYLVANIAN KNOT, which refers to curious in decipherable inscriptions and unusual images, devices etc. which are held to be magical occult and talismanic applications occurring on blades in Eastern Europe regions, notably Hungary.
I had a saber once which was apparently an Arab Bedouin example with one of these type blades (attached notes from years ago).

As far as I have found, the reference using this term comes from the important reference by the late Emma Astvatsaturyan, "Weapons of the Caucasian Nations"...the single plate showing this is in upper right.
Any way you guys might add the text translated that describes this unusual term and any particulars?

23rd July 2025, 06:53 PM	#1
Turkoman.khan Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Posts: 116	On the Aggregation of Caucasian Shashkas and Sabres on OBJET.art Dear friends, In case some of you haven't subscribed to the Open OBJET newsletter and missed the excitement — here's a long-anticipated leap forward in building the largest database dedicated to Caucasian arms and armor, now continuing with a major focus on shashkas and sabres. Some true gems from private collections add depth and distinction to this growing domain. Check out the article and enjoy the expanding expertise! Link: https://objet.art/as/articles/687fa78af25e334201ff3691 Attached Images

24th July 2025, 04:34 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,442	Thank you for linking this article..brilliant! and well explains some of the mystery behind the shashka blades, which do seem to be largely imported prior to 1860s. However these imported blades did of course remain in circulation and were often remounted whether as heirloom or sometimes trophy examples. What is interesting here is the modification of European cavalry blades to narrower and lighter versions in accord with the swordsmanship style of the Caucasian horseman. While it is hard to definitively set classifications as a rule, these guidelines do suggest certain proclivities. One thing that is interesting is the number of blades noted in many references as from Hungary and Styria. It has been my impression that Styria took much influence from Northern Italy, primarily Genoa. The most notable characteristic marking of course being the dentated arcs commonly known as 'sickle marks'. While these are typically associated with Genoa, they were used in variation throughout northern Italy, with Genoa a port of export. The blades among the commerce into trade networks went to Genoan ports of call, and stations in the Black Sea. From here these blades filtered into the Caucasian regions, while also into Styrian regions. In the Caucusus, this ubiquitous marking became termed GURDA, which while meaning in general, 'good blade' (loosely) I am unsure of the actual translation or etymology. As far as 'Hungarian' blades, Jan Ostrowski ("Origins of the Polish Saber", 1979, p.222) notes, "...Hungarian blade production, if it existed at all, must have been very limited, for 17th century records tell of blade purchases from Styrian and Italian manufacturers and the great majority of surviving Hungarian sabers have Styrian and Genovese blades often marked with crescent moons and inscriptions GENOA, FRINGIA and FRANCIA". QUESTION: Over the years a very esoteric topic has come up occasionally, but now that most of those players writing have 'left the building'.....I wanted to pose this to you and colleagues well versed in Russian references: That is THE TRANSYLVANIAN KNOT, which refers to curious in decipherable inscriptions and unusual images, devices etc. which are held to be magical occult and talismanic applications occurring on blades in Eastern Europe regions, notably Hungary. I had a saber once which was apparently an Arab Bedouin example with one of these type blades (attached notes from years ago). As far as I have found, the reference using this term comes from the important reference by the late Emma Astvatsaturyan, "Weapons of the Caucasian Nations"...the single plate showing this is in upper right. Any way you guys might add the text translated that describes this unusual term and any particulars? Attached Images