Persian Shamshir with Turkish Hilt

[rand]

http://persianshamshir.blogspot.com/

The above link is a Persian blade (shamshir), with a Turkish form of hilt.

The hilt has ivory grip scales that have yellowed and turned brown with age which leads me to believe they are African elephant ivory.

The cross guard is wootz with gold koftgari, the front and rear of the cross guard have a floral design, while the top and bottom have a striped design. There is some pitting in the central area of the guard.

The iron tand band also has gold koftgari work with a floral design.

This sword most likely rehilted in the 18th-19th century, there is no clear way to determine date unless the stripe pattern on then quillon was done for a short period that is identifyable.

The wootz blade is an unusually long 35" of the brilliant black damascus also known as khora khorassan.

Overall length of this sabre is 40".

An interesting feature to not is on the top spine of the blade, if you click on the image to enlarge it, you will clearly be able to see the oclussions which have been filled in with silver.

The lower cartouch on the blade says:

Amal-e Assadollah

(made by Assad Allah)

The upper cartouche says:

Bandeye Shah Velayat Abbas

Unsure of the English translation, know it refers to Shah Abbas, maybe (owned by Shah Abbas)? Will update the translation later.

Farsi translation courtesy of Manouchehr.

Shah Abbas was the most eminate ruler of Persian and reigned 1571-1629, its interesting to note that much of the cavalry that the Shah raised were Catholic Armeninan, Georgian and Circassian.

Interesting to note because it shows the basis for different styles and tastes in the ornamentaion of arms used by the Persian armies.

rand