Circassian Shashka mid 19th tamga on scabbard chape

urbanspaceman · 26th July 2025, 01:44 PM

This is a handsome sword Jim and obviously ripe with provenance.
We are in a new world for me but it is very interesting.
Let me ask a question that falls marginally into my ball-court: where was the blade from?
You mention Styria and Hungary, was there blade production there at this time?

Jim McDougall · 26th July 2025, 02:32 PM

Thank you Keith! It appears we are among the handful left standing here so I cannot thank you enough for posting.

The blade is most likely Styrian, though that denomination is a bit difficult as the several centers in Styrian (Austrian) regions are not as much recorded as the huge enterprise in Solingen. Ostrowski (1979) suggests that the blade production in Hungary must have been very small (if any at all), so the attribution of blades to Hungary seems to be simply to the swords they are mounted in, not the actual known place of production.

It is suggested that imported blades were prevalent in the Caucusus in the years prior to c. 1860, however blade producing became more notable then with blades copying European forms. While the shashka form was of course known earlier into the 18th century, there are few attributable examples known in the west, and most examples we see are mid 19th into early 20th century.

It is a great question and I'll try to find more detailed answers.I know there are others out there with expertise but chances of appearing here are slim.

26th July 2025, 01:44 PM	#1
urbanspaceman Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Tyneside. North-East England Posts: 721	Other worldly This is a handsome sword Jim and obviously ripe with provenance. We are in a new world for me but it is very interesting. Let me ask a question that falls marginally into my ball-court: where was the blade from? You mention Styria and Hungary, was there blade production there at this time?

26th July 2025, 02:32 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,654	Thank you Keith! It appears we are among the handful left standing here so I cannot thank you enough for posting. The blade is most likely Styrian, though that denomination is a bit difficult as the several centers in Styrian (Austrian) regions are not as much recorded as the huge enterprise in Solingen. Ostrowski (1979) suggests that the blade production in Hungary must have been very small (if any at all), so the attribution of blades to Hungary seems to be simply to the swords they are mounted in, not the actual known place of production. It is suggested that imported blades were prevalent in the Caucusus in the years prior to c. 1860, however blade producing became more notable then with blades copying European forms. While the shashka form was of course known earlier into the 18th century, there are few attributable examples known in the west, and most examples we see are mid 19th into early 20th century. It is a great question and I'll try to find more detailed answers.I know there are others out there with expertise but chances of appearing here are slim.