Two Kilij for comments

ASPaulding · 20th November 2022, 03:46 PM

I'm trying to search through my history to find the examples. Here is a link to an old 2004 post that I found last night wih some great information.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=727

TVV · 20th November 2022, 04:43 PM

I am reading the inscription as "За Отличие въ Турецкой Войне", meaning "For Distinguishment in the Turkish War". To me, it is suspicious.

werecow · 21st November 2022, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

I am reading the inscription as "За Отличие въ Турецкой Войне", meaning "For Distinguishment in the Turkish War". To me, it is suspicious.

Ah, cool! But yeah, that does sound like the kind of thing you'd put on a forgery or tourist piece. Maybe some cheeky Georgian thought he did OK in that war and etched his own (or a war trophy) blade?

P

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

i looked at the better pics and suddenly it dawned on me: ” за отличие в турецкой войне”.
I was so proud of myself and scrolled down the page to publish my momentous discovery when I saw Teodor’s post….

Well, I got silver:-)))

Or, as the Russians used to report the results of a duel between the American and the Russian runners: “Our runner came second and the American one came barely before the last”.

Hah, well I consider it a collective effort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Say whatever you want, the handle and the crossguard are typical Georgian.

True. Although the kilij blade is not very typical if I'm not mistaken? Perhaps it's a remounted blade.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASPaulding

Yours looks like a Shamshir grip and gaurd while the blade is a Kilij. Is it possible your blade was modified to resemble a Kilij?

I doubt that. It's got the typical T-section and it isn't an overly clunky one. It seems it was made this way, at least.

TVV · 21st November 2022, 04:07 PM

I suspect the inspiration for the etching came from signs, given to members of the Bulgarian Militia after the war. Not sure, but I suspect there was similar Russian insignia, on which the Bulgarian was based. The cross over a crescent is also a symbol of the victory in the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War. The blade may be an authentic old blade, which has been "enhanced" in this manner and put into new, inaccurate dress.

werecow · 21st November 2022, 11:04 PM

Hah, that definitely looks familiar! Funny... I assumed that cross over crescent to be a combination of a cross and an anchor, as in naval markings (especially since the blade is also blued).

Richard G · 23rd November 2022, 12:25 PM

i would venture that the smaller of the two originally posted by ASPaulding may well be Egyptian.
Regards
Richard

werecow · 23rd November 2022, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G

i would venture that the smaller of the two originally posted by ASPaulding may well be Egyptian.
Regards
Richard

Interesting! What distinguishes the Egyptian ones from the rest?

werecow · 7th June 2025, 05:37 PM

Very excited today since I managed to get a hold of a pala that is very similar to the T-section one in the OP. I've been wanting one of these for many years.

I also snagged a rather rusty (more so than the picture suggests) and slightly bent Persian quaddara (quadara?) that will be a fun cleanup project at some point.

serdar · 14th June 2025, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werecow

Very excited today since I managed to get a hold of a pala that is very similar to the T-section one in the OP. I've been wanting one of these for many years.

I also snagged a rather rusty (more so than the picture suggests) and slightly bent Persian quaddara (quadara?) that will be a fun cleanup project at some point.

Very nice fighting kilij, looks 18 century by the style and blade.
Does it have a text on the other side?

Did you ever saw a ottoman gaddara in person?
Persian ones are nice, but ottomans made great ones, but very very rare.

werecow · 15th June 2025, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serdar

Very nice fighting kilij, looks 18 century by the style and blade.

Thanks for the input! I wasn't quite sure about the age given that there is no legible date on it as far as I can tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by serdar

Does it have a text on the other side?

It has some decorations but nothing I recognize as readable text. Looks like the six pointed star maybe, but some of the markings have unfortunately worn away. I took some closeups of the decorative elements or the traces thereof. See pictures attached.

Quote:

Originally Posted by serdar

Did you ever saw a ottoman gaddara in person?
Persian ones are nice, but ottomans made great ones, but very very rare.

I don't think I've seen any of those. Now I'm curious.

ASPaulding · 20th November 2022, 04:48 PM

It definitely seems like there has been a few Russian-Bugarian Ottoman inspire swords from that same time period. All are just diffrent in there on way. Yours looks like a Shamshir grip and gaurd while the blade is a Kilij. Is it possible your blade was modified to resemble a Kilij? I know nothing of the capabilities of modifing a blade. I once had a sabre that was straightend and modified to look like a 17th century Walloon.

ariel · 21st November 2022, 01:32 AM

i looked at the better pics and suddenly it dawned on me: ” за отличие в турецкой войне”.
I was so proud of myself and scrolled down the page to publish my momentous discovery when I saw Teodor’s post….

Well, I got silver:-)))

Or, as the Russians used to report the results of a duel between the American and the Russian runners: “Our runner came second and the American one came barely before the last”.
Say whatever you want, the handle and the crossguard are typical Georgian.

21st November 2022, 04:07 PM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,666	I suspect the inspiration for the etching came from signs, given to members of the Bulgarian Militia after the war. Not sure, but I suspect there was similar Russian insignia, on which the Bulgarian was based. The cross over a crescent is also a symbol of the victory in the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War. The blade may be an authentic old blade, which has been "enhanced" in this manner and put into new, inaccurate dress. Attached Images

7th June 2025, 05:37 PM	#8
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 585	Very excited today since I managed to get a hold of a pala that is very similar to the T-section one in the OP. I've been wanting one of these for many years. I also snagged a rather rusty (more so than the picture suggests) and slightly bent Persian quaddara (quadara?) that will be a fun cleanup project at some point. Attached Images Last edited by werecow; 7th June 2025 at 07:45 PM. Reason: Added two additional pictures since why not

20th November 2022, 04:48 PM	#11
ASPaulding Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 84	It definitely seems like there has been a few Russian-Bugarian Ottoman inspire swords from that same time period. All are just diffrent in there on way. Yours looks like a Shamshir grip and gaurd while the blade is a Kilij. Is it possible your blade was modified to resemble a Kilij? I know nothing of the capabilities of modifing a blade. I once had a sabre that was straightend and modified to look like a 17th century Walloon. Attached Images

20th November 2022, 03:46 PM	#1
ASPaulding Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 84	I'm trying to search through my history to find the examples. Here is a link to an old 2004 post that I found last night wih some great information. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=727

20th November 2022, 04:43 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,666	I am reading the inscription as "За Отличие въ Турецкой Войне", meaning "For Distinguishment in the Turkish War". To me, it is suspicious.

21st November 2022, 11:04 PM	#5
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 585	Hah, that definitely looks familiar! Funny... I assumed that cross over crescent to be a combination of a cross and an anchor, as in naval markings (especially since the blade is also blued).

23rd November 2022, 12:25 PM	#6
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 412	i would venture that the smaller of the two originally posted by ASPaulding may well be Egyptian. Regards Richard

21st November 2022, 01:32 AM	#12
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	i looked at the better pics and suddenly it dawned on me: ” за отличие в турецкой войне”. I was so proud of myself and scrolled down the page to publish my momentous discovery when I saw Teodor’s post…. Well, I got silver:-))) Or, as the Russians used to report the results of a duel between the American and the Russian runners: “Our runner came second and the American one came barely before the last”. Say whatever you want, the handle and the crossguard are typical Georgian.