Kindjal from Trabzon (?) for Comment
 

I was lucky enough to acquire this rather impressive (25 inches overall) kindjal (kama). The blade profile looks similar to the kindjals from the Pontus region around Trabzon in nowadays Turkey. The scabbard chape resembles closely one seen on a photo of Pontic Greek guerrillas that Eftihis supplied in a thread about the Laz bichagi and weapons from the area. The hilt however is not quite as angular and its decoration looks quite like the decoration typically seen on Georgian kindjals. I wonder if the type was popular not just in Pontus, but also in Western Georgia: Adjara and Guria?
Regards,
Teodor

Kirill Rivkin in his new book on classification of Caucasian weapons attributes them to the Western Georgia, Black Sea region. He also suggests that they were Circassian in their origin, specifically Shapsugh, based on the width of their blades. Somebody aptly nicknamed them the "artillery shell kindjals" :-)
I have one, with much more silver, but with damaged iron scabbard fitting. On the other hand, the damascus pattern on mine is exquisite: very complex, compact and precise, typical Georgian high class. And a hollow-ground blade, to boot.


If you ever get tired of yours, please let me know.

Nice one, had it on watch but forgot to bid :-) Defintly an item worth having.

Nice kindjal! i have only 1 this type

Thank you gentlemen for the quick responses. I sent Kirill an e-mail, asking where I can buy his book.
Regards,
Teodor

Teodor,
Just go there:
http://museummilitary.com/ru
and order #4 and #7: these are Kirill's books on Caucasian weapons.
I hope your Russian is good enough to navigate the site.
I have spare copies of #4: history of Caucasian warfare and weapons. If you need one, send me a PM.
#7 just came out: more of a technical one, pinpointing details attributable to certain times and localities of manufacture . Very useful.
Ariel

Ariel,

Thank you or the link: I already visited the site, but found only #4. I cannot find #7, which if I unerstand correctly is the actual collector's guide.
Teodor

This one is in the military museum of Thessaloniki in Greece.

Thank you Eftihis,

Nice dagger and quite an eclectic display of items from the Western all the way to the Eastern borders of the Ottoman Empire.

This is somewhat off topic, but how large is the Military Museum in Thessaloniki, and is it worth making a trip from Sofia one day to just see it? Is it dedicated to the Greek struggle for independence in parts of Macedonia and Southern Thrace, or is the emphasis on the Balkan and World Wars?

Teodor

Hi Theodor, it is mainly focused on first and second world war.. But has a collection from 1821 as well...Send me your e-m ail, and i will send you more photos!

Thank you for the pictures, Eftihis,

I sent you an e-mail as you have maxed out your personal messages quota.

Teodor