An Afghan 'Shashka' for comment and help with translation

[ariel]

Originally Posted by mahratt

Congratulations, GePi!

An excellent shashka.
Discussions about name of this weapon, in my opinion, are somewhat meaningless. Pseudo - a particle that is put in front of some words and gives them the meaning of falsity, falsity. If such a checker were an imitation of the Russian (Caucasian) one, then with great assumptions the name "pseudoshashka" could be used. But since this weapon originated in Afghanistan completely independently of the Russian (Caucasian) models, it makes no sense to use the "pseudo" particle. We see a shashka in front of us, and since these shashkas were used and produced in Afghanistan, it is logical to call it an Afghan shashka.
For those who are not in the know or have not read my book, let me remind you that such shashkas in Afghanistan were called "shamshir", like any weapon with a long blade The Afghans were not smart about the name of the weapon .

Please watch your Google Translator: “shashka” is not translated as “ checker”.

Checker is a nonexistent singular of English “ checkers”, a board game that in Russian is called “ shashki”. Machine translation is brainless:-)

But I am glad you have changed your position : you used to trace the appearance of Afghan pseudo-shashka to the Russians who brought this pattern to Afghanistan and defended it in your book. Of course, it is not a shashka. Glad you finally agree. I know full well Elphinstone quote about “ shumsheers”: if you read my earlier post, you will find it.

There is nothing bad in the word “pseudo” : Lebedynsky just indicated that the Afghan example had very little ( and questionably not at all ) with the Caucasian one.

I understand that you are trying to re-publish it in English. Glad we are beginning to agree and that you are beginning to accept my critiques in a positive, useful and constructive way.

With best wishes,

Good luck!

P.S. I understand you are collecting materials for a book on Central-Asian weapons. If you wish, I shall be ready to go over the preliminary draft and express my opinion. I also have several interesting examples of these weapons and shall be glad to provide you with photos and descriptions. Hopefully, they will make the future book more comprehensive. Let me know.

Again, good luck!

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by ariel

Please watch your Google Translator: “shashka” is not translated as “ checker”.

Checker is a nonexistent singular of English “ checkers”, a board game that in Russian is called “ shashki”. Machine translation is brainless:-)

But I am glad you have changed your position : you used to trace the appearance of Afghan pseudo-shashka to the Russians who brought this pattern to Afghanistan and defended it in your book. Of course, it is not a shashka. Glad you finally agree. I know full well Elphinstone quote about “ shumsheers”: if you read my earlier post, you will find it. And it was in my review of your book.

There is nothing bad in the word “pseudo” : Lebedynsky just indicated that the Afghan example had very little ( and questionably not at all ) with the Caucasian one.

Glad we are beginning to agree and that you are beginning to accept my critiques in a positive, useful and constructive way.

With best wishes,

Good luck!

P.S. I understand you are collecting materials for a book on Central-Asian weapons. If you wish, I shall be ready to go over the preliminary draft and express my opinion. I also have several interesting examples of these weapons and shall be glad to provide you with photos and descriptions. Hopefully, they will make the future book more comprehensive. Let me know.

Again, good luck!

(Reply redacted by Moderators)

[Ian]

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[Ian]

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[Montino Bourbon]

Nice and very functional blade, (I'm big on functionality) that I'm sure works very well for the work it was intended to do. I'll bet you can clear the line at the supermarket quickly with that. The handle is lovely too, with a beautiful patina that shows some age. The calligraphy is nice too. I like it. Looking again I noticed another nice detail, what looks like a false edge near the point.

[GePi]

Thank you for opening up the thread again Ian. I will not comment any further on that absurd nomenclature derail.

Originally Posted by Montino Bourbon

Nice and very functional blade, (I'm big on functionality) that I'm sure works very well for the work it was intended to do. I'll bet you can clear the line at the supermarket quickly with that. The handle is lovely too, with a beautiful patina that shows some age. The calligraphy is nice too. I like it. Looking again I noticed another nice detail, what looks like a false edge near the point.

It sure does have a false edge, not sharpened though. As said above said the whole blade has a very Indian feel and would feel right at home mounted in a tulwar hilt.

It may be well be wootz, but due to a feature I forgot to show I will not refinish it. It has some geometric decoration at the forte, either applied via (negative) etching or through polishing, I am not sure, very similar to an example from the Ashokaarts archive. It's crude, but of course it has to stay.

[GePi]

As for the translation, Dmitry was kind enough to forward my request and received the following transcriptions.

The inscription on the front side bolster:

نادي علياً مظهر العجائب تجده عونا لك في النوائب

Which google translate gave as:
"Call upon Ali, the manifestation of wonders, and you will find him to help you in calamities"

The upper part of the obverse bolster:

كل هم وغم سينجلي بعظمتك ياالله

Which google translates as:
"All worry and sorrow will be cleared by your greatness, O God"

The lower part here is still missing, unfortunately. Anyone proficient in Arabic able to confirm these readings?