Caucasian Kindjal for comment

[Gavin Nugent]

Hi Ariel,
I totally understand what it is you are conveying, though I make no claims as to value of anything as that only comes into play if one wants to sell and there is another who wants what you have.

I do however think it worthy of exhaustive research on my part and I hope all here can offer up more for me to A/ Get a better understanding of these attractive knives and B/ get a better understanding of this piece through thorough examination of all parts and construction and materials used ie; what types of wood would be found under the handles and in the sheaths, I am sure there are particular species that would be common to the region or origin, what type of methods and material is used to keep all this wood silver and blade together? Mayhap little things like this will help me dismiss any ideas about it being 1880-1920.

I know Chris Evans has offered up many llinks to the craft of making Navaja, is there anything similar that can be read about the Kindjal?

Ariel, could you explain the different styles found under this umbrella of knife in Caucasian origin as to give me and others a better understanding of design and what that design represents as far as practical weapons go ie, sizes, the plain horn hilts, the horn one side ivory the other, with plain scabbards or with silver fittings to the leather scabbards and other variations like the full silver with neillo and filagree, what are functional weapons and what are for dress only or what are both.

What does this style of blade and fullering indicate at first glance Ariel? Any age factors to the blade gained from the photos at hand?

regards

Gav

[Rick]

Hi Gav, have you been through the archives yet ?
A search for 'kindjal' brings up two pages of threads .

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks Rick, I sure have and have turned up some very useful postings wih maps etc. I hope others who did make posting on Kindjals might be able to fast track me to any info they think I may find useful.

regards

Gav

[Nagawarrior]

Gav;
May I recommend an excellent reference book, Chechen Arms, by Isa Askhabov. The people of the Caucasus are an intensely proud people. One of their proudest possessions are their weapons. It may be considered a great insult to infer that one would carry a weapon of inferior quality. Learn about these great people and you will understand. Enjoy your quest for knowledge.
Stephen

"A secret guardian of freedom, the punishing kindjal, last arbiter in matters of disgrace and insult........"

[scratch]

G'day
I have held this piece(Thank you Gavin) Dress, I know nothing. Blade I believe to be honestly made with craft.
Norman, if not for courtesy to guide I would be lost. Thank you for a timely reminder, to me

Sinceely,

Daniel

[Lew]

The blade seems to be well made and could be a blade from early part of the 20th century. Below is a quality blade that I thought was 19th century but turned out to be circa 1920-30. So older blade married to a more recent furniture.

Lew

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks for the comments gents,

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

The blade seems to be well made and could be a blade from early part of the 20th century. Below is a quality blade that I thought was 19th century but turned out to be circa 1920-30. So older blade married to a more recent furniture.

Lew

Thanks Lew, I agree with what has been said about an older blade being married with newer furniture for my piece and albeit in the tradition of the masters of old but without the exicution of their skills, and did guess that too when held side by side of the other I had here. What I wished to acheive was not to have it met with statements of it being an old antique, what I was hoping for was apart from obvious physical flaws, those who know state more thoroughly reasons why. All the toing and froing aside, I would like to know more about that blade shapes. The picture you provided Lew is a good point for comparison for me. Etchings aside, the fuller arrangement seems to be the exact offset as the ones pictured in mine, but you will notice the tip of mine is a nastier, almost recurve double edge with a long needle point. Does this denote and particular time in history or region of manufacture?
Thank you too Daniel for pointing out the first hand views and feel from you contact with this piece, appreciated.
On another note chaps, from what surfing I have done I understand Isa Askhabov is contactable through email via a website, can anyone here porovide his contact details to save me digging further and possibly doing language translations. PM me if you can.

best regards

Gav