15th April 2007, 05:04 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Kindjal: need help with dating
Smallish and fully original kindjal with old blade: obvious narrowing of the blade due to repeat sharpening.
The inscription is confusing (to me) and I need help. The first two numbers are 11: the horizontal line on top is just a scratch and reading the date as 16.. would not make sense. After that is 4, squiggles, and some more numbers(?). Anybody to the rescue? |
20th April 2007, 07:27 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Istanbul
Posts: 228
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I could not make sense out of it either.
just an idea, is it possible that what we are looking is not arabic script but something else? |
22nd April 2007, 11:53 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Chania Crete Greece
Posts: 507
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Looks like Armenian script to me!
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22nd April 2007, 01:28 PM | #4 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
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Quote:
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26th April 2007, 04:05 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Well, the plot thickens....
I took it to the local Islamic Center and it was examined by their headmaster, who is a teacher of Arabic/Quran/calligraphy. According to him, the script is quite crude and unsophisticated ( nothing beats Persian fake signatures of Assadullah ), and the inscription is "broken" in the middle: It is "1" on the left, crudely embellished "Ali" in the middle (GOOD JOB ALEX!!!) and "12" on the right. According to him, one numeral at the beginning is missing as was often the case in Arabic writings; the full date must be read as either 1112 or 1012. It sounds too good to be true: either 1603 or 1700 would make it the oldest dated Caucasian Kindjal blade known to man and beast!!! I shall look for more Middle Eastern linguists ; now I am REALLY!!! intrigued |
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