Origins of Gorda/Gurda

Jim McDougall · 6th January 2008, 04:29 AM

Very interesting theory Ariel, well thought out.
It does seem that the 'eyelash' or 'sickle' markings do appear consistantly in some interpretation on these blades in the Caucusus, and I think Askhabov's book on Chechen weapons addresses this quite well.
It seems that some time ago it was suggested to me that the term 'gurda' interpreted loosely to mean 'good blade', which I think is in line with what you describe, but I'm unclear on the etymology. I think that the reference to the eyelash marks associated with the quality inference. I agree that the rather romanticized and fanciful suggestions remain just that.

As you note, many of the blades that turn up on shashkas were at some earlier point, East European, whether Polish or Hungarian, and I was not aware of the term 'korda', which seems to be a plausible association. It seems also interesting that the term 'gurda' is applied to shashka's, and not to other weapons, further suggesting reference to the 'quality' of these sword blades.

I also wonder more on the counterpart blades that occur concurrently on shashkas with the equally significant 'running wolf' mark of Passau/Solingen/Styria and as Askhabov describes as 'ters maymal'. This again seems applied in the same sense, and it would be interesting to know more on that term as well.

6th January 2008, 04:29 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,343	Very interesting theory Ariel, well thought out. It does seem that the 'eyelash' or 'sickle' markings do appear consistantly in some interpretation on these blades in the Caucusus, and I think Askhabov's book on Chechen weapons addresses this quite well. It seems that some time ago it was suggested to me that the term 'gurda' interpreted loosely to mean 'good blade', which I think is in line with what you describe, but I'm unclear on the etymology. I think that the reference to the eyelash marks associated with the quality inference. I agree that the rather romanticized and fanciful suggestions remain just that. As you note, many of the blades that turn up on shashkas were at some earlier point, East European, whether Polish or Hungarian, and I was not aware of the term 'korda', which seems to be a plausible association. It seems also interesting that the term 'gurda' is applied to shashka's, and not to other weapons, further suggesting reference to the 'quality' of these sword blades. I also wonder more on the counterpart blades that occur concurrently on shashkas with the equally significant 'running wolf' mark of Passau/Solingen/Styria and as Askhabov describes as 'ters maymal'. This again seems applied in the same sense, and it would be interesting to know more on that term as well.