Shamshir, ID and translation please

[Tim Simmons]

Not so sure about the rather fresh looking file marks on the handle. I think it has been through repair restoration and replacement.

[Royston]

Thanks for the information everyone. As I said, not my sphere of collecting so all of this is very helpfull.

I had not thought that the grips are ivory as I could not see any obvious schreger lines. One of the new photos, of the end of the pommel does look more like ivory now I have looked more closely.

Tim, I cannot account for the file marks, but if you look at the new photos, I do not think anything about the hilt could be called "fresh" I don't think the grips have been off for a while. If it has been restored and replaced it looks as though it was a good while ago.

Thanks again
Roy

[kai]

Hello Roy,

the blade looks pattern-welded to me, not wootz.

Anyway, it is quality work AFAIK...

Regards,
Kai

[Gavin Nugent]

Its a very nice old Persian blade mounted in English hilt to my eyes. I can't point out anything else which has not already been mentioned.

Richard Delar might chime in here as there is a well written discourse on The English Mameluke Cavalry Officers sword.

Gavin

[Oliver Pinchot]

Not only is it wootz, but the last photo above clearly suggests a ladder pattern.

[Tim Simmons]

Better pics Roy, clearly original.

[ariel]

The very last picture in the Royston's array shows small pieces of handle material inserted by the crossguard and the pommel seems to show discolorations (?) at the inner parts. I cannot be certain whether it is the minor remnant of the inner part of the cattle bone or true ivory: only Royston can tell.
If it is a Mameluke style ( which it is) it cannot date to 18th century. Those appeared only in the 19th, more around the middle of it.
It lacks the precision of British General grade Mamelukes, thus I would suspect native Indian manufacture.

[kai]

Hello Oliver,

Not only is it wootz, but the last photo above clearly suggests a ladder pattern.

You have way more experience with these pieces but please have a look at this pic again (I tried to enhance the contrast):
1. I do see the ladder-like manipulation - from the limited area shown it doesn't seem to be very regular though.
2. I still see a pattern-welded blade here, not wootz.


Roy, could you post some more close-ups and possibly a somewhat larger stretch of the blade if a repeated ladder-like pattern can be seen?

Regards,
Kai

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Oliver,


You have way more experience with these pieces but please have a look at this pic again (I tried to enhance the contrast):
1. I do see the ladder-like manipulation - from the limited area shown it doesn't seem to be very regular though.
2. I still see a pattern-welded blade here, not wootz.


Roy, could you post some more close-ups and possibly a somewhat larger stretch of the blade if a repeated ladder-like pattern can be seen?

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

One essential thing to remember is that the photo shows a greatly enlarged patterning.

It is undoubtedly Persian wootz, albeit I am not so sure abbout the Kirk Narduban feature as there is not enough of the blade in the photo to see any repeating pattern, and the enlarged photo can be misleading.