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#1 |
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Here is a kilij for viewing. The handle is rhino-horn with an old repair on one side. The crossguard has silver inlay, mostly intact. The blade is 33 inches long and is made of sham wootz. No scabbard. I think this sword is an early 1800s piece but I would like more expert opinions on the date. Any help on a translation would be appreciated........Dave.
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
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Interesting piece. The silver on the crossguard is not inlay but silver koftgari. Nice contrast wootz.
Others can tell you more. |
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#3 |
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Sham wootz was always considered lowest on the list of desirable wootz patterns according to what I've read. It's easy to identify because the pattern basically runs parallel the length of the blade like ripples on the water. It also has almost none of swirls that are seen on the more common patterns like Kara-Khorrasan. Visually, I like it the best of all the wootz patterns. B.T.W., you are right, it is koftgari rather than inlay on the cross-guard. Should have noticed that!!!!!..........Dave.
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#4 |
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isnt this one of the Persian wootz types??
Decent blade, but the koftgari on the blade and quillons are Syrian and recent. |
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#5 | |
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#6 |
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Mainly from experience, Dave. I see such koftgari on blades with quillons and scabbard mounts that also have the same silver koftgari. These scabbards and inscriptions are almost uniform and is probably done in the same workshop... The spine inscription is probably even the same poetry.
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#7 |
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Dave, you are right about sham - it generally "runs the length of the blade". But it is also characterized by low contrast and low activity! The pattern on your blade is quite bold and active, and certainly of quite good quality. I'd not call it anywhere close to the "lowest on the list of desirable wootz patterns"
![]() It's a nice blade! I also agree with A.alnakkas that the cross and coftgari inscription are recent (meaning post 19th Century ![]() |
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#8 | |
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#9 | |
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One of sham patterns is shown HERE , second from the top. There are many other sham patterns that can be quite bold and active. I'll show one of them soon. These patterns are relatively easy to call sham, but the pattern on Dave's sword is quite complex in my opinion to be called sham with certainty. Would be interesting what others think. |
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#10 | |
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Interesting thing about those Syrian made mounts is often the quillons are old ones with added silver koftgari. Some are supposedly wootz too. Though I think the quillons on Dave's sword is Syrian made and recent while the rhino hilt is probably older with an obvious but skilfully made repair. |
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#11 | |
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#12 | |
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1. Stripy/Simple damask (sham) - predominantly straight lines 2. Water damask - shorter straight lines mixed with curved lines 3. Wavy damask - more complex curved lines mixed with dots 4. Checkered mottle (network) damask - shorter lines with random web-like bands 5. Ladder damask (aka Kirk-Narduban). I think yours falls under #2 - Water damask. Attached are some pictures for comparison (not related to above system). # 3 is sham on Persian shamshir, and #4 - sham on Ottoman kilij blade. Your pattern is more complex (in some/most sections of the blade!). it resembles #1, with lines going in random directions with some dots. |
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#13 | |
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#14 |
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Dave, the book is readily available. Make sure to get English version. It covers mainly modern mechanical damask, and has a chapter on wootz. it's a nice book overall and you can get it quite cheap now (PM sent).
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#15 |
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This one is not original Türk kılıç it seems made in afganistan , in these days we can see lots of them coming to istanbul too , there is no Türkish words on barrel , all seems arabic
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#16 | |
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#18 | |
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![]() ![]() - Also, it would be great if you can show pictures of grand bazaar swords you mentioned, so we can compare and discuss. Cok teshakurlar! |
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#19 | |
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