Is this Indo-Persian?

[TVV]

Jim,

I completely missed the upside down suspension. I was wondering, could it be a blade mounted in Arabia for one of the Caucasian immigrants there, rather than arab style decoration making its way to the Caucasus?

Teodor

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Teodor,
To be honest, I missed it too as I was first looking at this, but something seemed amiss, and finally...bonk! there it was.
This piece has all the indicators that it may be one of the multitudes of variant sabres used in the Bedouin sphere, but the scabbard rings were the first clue.
Even more confusing, while this resembles a shashka 'gurda' style blade, which were copied from European forms, it seems more likely Caucasian,although lack of markings seems unusual.
I had suggested a Khevsur sword, which were often roughly furbished by native artisans, but these sabres typically were mounted in regular edge down fashion.

The scabbard throat has the stylized device known by the Arabian term 'aghrab' (=scorpion) and served as an apotropaic in the folk religion as protection against the evil eye. These, as noted, are regularly found on the scabbard throats of the Hadrahmauti sa'ifs which were also used in Yemen. These silvered scabbards, according to Elgood ("Arabian Arms and Armour") were typically produced in Hyderabad, India for export.

The scabbard, as mounted with rings at convex or blade edge upward means that the scabbard was worn with that 'aghrab' inward and non visible. Also, the decorative carrying ring bosses also faced inward. More puzzling is the center section, with crudely fashioned geometrics as would often be seen on the obverse (non visible) side of the scabbard.
Caucasian scabbards are typically decorated on the visible side, and quite plain on the inside.

The hilt, as noted, is intended to approximate the beautiful ivory and silver hilts of the Persian shamshir, the most desirable in the Dar al Islam, however the pommel cap, though beautiful silver, quite crudely done. The wire wrap at the neck, while sometimes seen on Persian shamshirs, is quite typical on Arab, Central Asian and Indian versions of shamshir. It does seem also a Caucasian affectation on some Khevsur examples.

While I cannot place for sure, the motif en cartouche on the scabbard panels seems Caucasian, the bird being one figure that seems to stand out.

I think that this sabre seems rather simply furbished by a village smith, with components and influences at hand. With distinct Arabian characteristics in imitation of the favored Persian style, and features suggesting Caucasian influence and last, the curious positioning of the carry rings suggesting Russian fashion......I think the closest we will come to final answer will be somewhere in the Ottoman sphere.

While admittedly 'speculation by the numbers' , these observations only present possibilities by recognizing these particular characteristics.
When trying to identify the many weapon form anomolies produced in the ethnographic world, we can often only recognize certain features and components that appear in the weapon. Without key markings or provenance, any accurate assessment must remain speculation, with plausible explanations.

Its still fun to make educated guesses!! and this sabre remains a beautiful example whose enigma makes its even all the more attractive.

All tne very best,
Jim

[ariel]

IMHO, there is not a trace of Caucasian influence: purely Arabian.
The blade with 3 narrow and very "mechanical" fullers looks , if anything, trade Syrian or N. African ( the worst, Heavens forbid, is a modern Georgian arts and crafts design). The silverwork is NOT Caucasian at all. The handle of Georgian swords widens toward crossguard, and Khevsurian swords have flat brass ( or, if expensive, silver) rings, just like the scabbard.
Look here:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10110
My guess, the fittings were reassembled: the middle section of the scabbard covering is a primitive replacement. At that time, the adjacent suspension plates were put upside down.

[ALEX]

Ariel put it quite nicely, and accurately. This sword screams reassembly, and fairly recent. Even though it resembles a legit Arab sword form - so many components are out of match, and of low quality. It's hard to judge by pictures, but in my opinion it has been done by an amateur.

[broadaxe]

I'm relatively new in this field but have begun most recently to study Bedouin sabers. Re-fitting swords and scabbards was quite common. I've handeled several swords lately, some of them were untouched for dozens of years and they looked similar, meaning re-fitted during their working time.
Suspencion could have been edge down or edge up, no matter where the rings are.
Check this link, showing the Pope's visit to Israel with Kawas - ceremonial muslem body guards - that can bee seen during the first seconds, carrying swords. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Psm...eature=related

Take also a look at this photo, from Beth-Lehem, 1934:

[Jim McDougall]

Excellent input Broadaxe, I see what you mean on the carrying rings...excellent photo too! Thank you so much. That does put things back to the Arabian sphere. While a rough sabre, it is the type used by Bedouins well into the 1930's.

Thank you again for your response Teodor.

[TVV]

Jim,

Thank you, I was not trying to be argumentative, and as I wrote, I completely missed the suspension before Ariel and you pointed it out. I agree that something did not feel quite right, especially in the crudeness of the workmanship, and I am with Ariel and Alex in dating this sword to the 20th century, perhaps even the second half of last century.
I still think it is a nice sword, even if if the scabbard and hilt were put together more recently. Hopefully it was made a few decades ago for local ceremonial use, and not as something to be sold as a souvenir.
Rehards,
Teodor