Sword for identification

[cornelistromp]

with the typical s-shape blade, ......I go for a hungarian sabre variation, 15thC ?

sorry optical illusion because the blade is bent it looks s-shaped. is the last 15cm or so (point) double edged?

[Evgeny_K]

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

with the typical s-shape blade, ......I go for a hungarian sabre variation, 15thC ?

I don't quite understand what you mean by "typical s-shape blade". As I said above, the blade is straight, but bent.

[mariusgmioc]

"found somewhere about city of Sudak (Crimean peninsula)"

Another strong argument for the Khazar (or related culture - Eurasian Nomads also called "People of the Steppes") origin!

PS: The bending of the tip gave the impression that the sword has double "s-shaped" curvature in the main view.

[Evgeny_K]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

"found somewhere about city of Sudak (Crimean peninsula)"

Another strong argument for the Khazar (or related culture - Eurasian Nomads also called "People of the Steppes") origin!

PS: The bending of the tip gave the impression that the sword has double "s-shaped" curvature in the main view.

However, this sword doesn't look like typical nomadic swords including Khazar swords.

[Iain]

This is part of a family of 'cuff' hilted swords common across the Byzantine empire and areas of its influence. The style actually dates back to Samanid period. In later times it can be observed as recently as the 18th century in Omani swords. It was used across a very large area and turns up in everything from medieval Mamluk weapons to early Islamic swords in Syria and Arabia.

Yours conforms broadly to others published in the works by Yotov available online regarding finds in Bulgaria and southern Europe.

I would roughly place this in the 10th to 12th centuries.

The guard looks like it might be on backwards by the way. I had the pleasure to do a short article on another similar sword from Dr. Lee Jones which you can find here: http://iainnorman.com/articles-2/25

[Evgeny_K]

Originally Posted by Iain

This is part of a family of 'cuff' hilted swords common across the Byzantine empire and areas of its influence. The style actually dates back to Samanid period. In later times it can be observed as recently as the 18th century in Omani swords. It was used across a very large area and turns up in everything from medieval Mamluk weapons to early Islamic swords in Syria and Arabia.

Yours conforms broadly to others published in the works by Yotov available online regarding finds in Bulgaria and southern Europe.

I would roughly place this in the 10th to 12th centuries.

The guard looks like it might be on backwards by the way. I had the pleasure to do a short article on another similar sword from Dr. Lee Jones which you can find here: http://iainnorman.com/articles-2/25

Thank you, Iain! Very interesting information! I had seen earlier publications about swords with this type of guard, so this one piqued my interest.
By the way, regarding the guard, if it was turned upside down, it was a very, very long time ago)

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Evgeny_K

Thank you, Iain! Very interesting information! I had seen earlier publications about swords with this type of guard, so this one piqued my interest.
By the way, regarding the guard, if it was turned upside down, it was a very, very long time ago)

Hi Evgeny,

Its possible the guard is in the correct orientation, I don't have the benefit of the sword in hand, typically the cuff over the guard is the "wider" element while the lower half of the guard is more circular to accommodate the grip. With the level of corrosion its hard to see exactly how much has been lost around the blade.

I can send you privately several publications on these if you like. But this is 100 percent what your sword is.

The blade was originally straight of course, but obviously the condition and the centuries have distorted it.