Identify a sword

redlazzytrasher · 8th January 2022, 10:10 PM

Hi folks,

I want to identify and rate the sword in this image (Muslim scimitar, saif, shamshir?). I wonder if you can help.

I only know two things about this sword:

the inscription is chapter # 110 of the Koran
supposedly bring back from trip to Israel

Thanks

mariusgmioc · 9th January 2022, 08:09 AM

Welcome to the forum!

I believe it to be an early 20th century presentation Syrian saif with an European or Indian blade.

Let's see what others have to say.

See also:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27582

Gonzoadler · 9th January 2022, 01:52 PM

Hello,

I doubt that your saber is very old, I would say it was made in the second half of the 20th century, maybe as a present (how Marius said) or as a better touristic piece. The etched and gilded surfaces are rather crude craftmanship and the imitations of precious stones on the mountings are also typical for not very old arabic pieces.
I can't say a lot about the origin of the blade, maybe it was made on the same place like the hilt and the scabbard. For me, the blade looks like only made for decorative purposes and not for any other use. I have a caucasian saber with a nice filigree-decorated handle and scabbard, which is also not very old and has a similar blade (pictures attached - I know that they are not very good).

Regards
Robin

ariel · 10th January 2022, 06:08 AM

redlazzytrasher:

It IS Saudi.
The reason for such an attribution is the Pommel.
Persian pommels are 90 degrees off the hilt.
Syrian ones point down.
Saudi ones point up.

ariel · 10th January 2022, 06:28 AM

Gonzoadler:
It looks suspiciously like a very recent Georgian tourist thingie.
The blade is local, new. The decoration ( filigree) is very popular there these days: it is one of the most "showy-est" and by far the simplest and cheapest method. I was told by the locals that the owners of the " for-tourists" workshops hire girls just out of school for their first paying job, train them for a day or two and then they start producing filigree decorations in a storm.

kronckew · 10th January 2022, 05:25 PM

Yes, When I started collecting, I 'won' this beautiful sashqua at auction. It's of course a tourist nasty and lives in my Oops corner. The dark greenish black infill was still sticky when I received it.

Battara · 10th January 2022, 11:57 PM

Kronckew, that green stuff might be years of a patina residue that builds up thickly from the oxidation of the copper in the nickel-silver/German silver construction.

ariel · 11th January 2022, 12:39 AM

Jose,
Between this sword’s B’day and its transition to Kronk’s Oops corner there were not enough days (not years! ) to form a patina layer thicker than a single atom:-)
Kronk, buddy, I feel your pain. We have all been there:-((((

Sajen · 11th January 2022, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Kronk, buddy, I feel your pain. We have all been there:-((((

Indeed!

Battara · 12th January 2022, 12:04 AM

Ah.........I see your point!

redlazzytrasher · 31st January 2022, 06:47 PM

Thanks for all the comments

8th January 2022, 10:10 PM	#1
redlazzytrasher Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 2	Identify a sword Hi folks, I want to identify and rate the sword in this image (Muslim scimitar, saif, shamshir?). I wonder if you can help. I only know two things about this sword: the inscription is chapter # 110 of the Koran supposedly bring back from trip to Israel Thanks Attached Images

9th January 2022, 08:09 AM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Welcome to the forum! I believe it to be an early 20th century presentation Syrian saif with an European or Indian blade. Let's see what others have to say. See also: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27582 Last edited by mariusgmioc; 9th January 2022 at 10:44 AM.

9th January 2022, 01:52 PM	#3
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	Hello, I doubt that your saber is very old, I would say it was made in the second half of the 20th century, maybe as a present (how Marius said) or as a better touristic piece. The etched and gilded surfaces are rather crude craftmanship and the imitations of precious stones on the mountings are also typical for not very old arabic pieces. I can't say a lot about the origin of the blade, maybe it was made on the same place like the hilt and the scabbard. For me, the blade looks like only made for decorative purposes and not for any other use. I have a caucasian saber with a nice filigree-decorated handle and scabbard, which is also not very old and has a similar blade (pictures attached - I know that they are not very good). Regards Robin Attached Images

10th January 2022, 05:25 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,181	Yes, When I started collecting, I 'won' this beautiful sashqua at auction. It's of course a tourist nasty and lives in my Oops corner. The dark greenish black infill was still sticky when I received it. Attached Images

10th January 2022, 06:08 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	redlazzytrasher: It IS Saudi. The reason for such an attribution is the Pommel. Persian pommels are 90 degrees off the hilt. Syrian ones point down. Saudi ones point up.

10th January 2022, 06:28 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Gonzoadler: It looks suspiciously like a very recent Georgian tourist thingie. The blade is local, new. The decoration ( filigree) is very popular there these days: it is one of the most "showy-est" and by far the simplest and cheapest method. I was told by the locals that the owners of the " for-tourists" workshops hire girls just out of school for their first paying job, train them for a day or two and then they start producing filigree decorations in a storm.

10th January 2022, 11:57 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Kronckew, that green stuff might be years of a patina residue that builds up thickly from the oxidation of the copper in the nickel-silver/German silver construction.

11th January 2022, 12:39 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Jose, Between this sword’s B’day and its transition to Kronk’s Oops corner there were not enough days (not years! ) to form a patina layer thicker than a single atom:-) Kronk, buddy, I feel your pain. We have all been there:-((((

12th January 2022, 12:04 AM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Ah.........I see your point!

31st January 2022, 06:47 PM	#11
redlazzytrasher Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 2	Thanks for all the comments