On the Aggregation of Caucasian Shashkas and Sabres on OBJET.art
 

Dear friends,

In case some of you haven't subscribed to the Open OBJET newsletter and missed the excitement — here's a long-anticipated leap forward in building the largest database dedicated to Caucasian arms and armor, now continuing with a major focus on shashkas and sabres.

Some true gems from private collections add depth and distinction to this growing domain.
Check out the article and enjoy the expanding expertise!

Link: https://objet.art/as/articles/687fa78af25e334201ff3691

Thank you for linking this article..brilliant! and well explains some of the mystery behind the shashka blades, which do seem to be largely imported prior to 1860s. However these imported blades did of course remain in circulation and were often remounted whether as heirloom or sometimes trophy examples.

What is interesting here is the modification of European cavalry blades to narrower and lighter versions in accord with the swordsmanship style of the Caucasian horseman.

While it is hard to definitively set classifications as a rule, these guidelines do suggest certain proclivities.

One thing that is interesting is the number of blades noted in many references as from Hungary and Styria. It has been my impression that Styria took much influence from Northern Italy, primarily Genoa. The most notable characteristic marking of course being the dentated arcs commonly known as 'sickle marks'. While these are typically associated with Genoa, they were used in variation throughout northern Italy, with Genoa a port of export. The blades among the commerce into trade networks went to Genoan ports of call, and stations in the Black Sea.
From here these blades filtered into the Caucasian regions, while also into Styrian regions.
In the Caucusus, this ubiquitous marking became termed GURDA, which while meaning in general, 'good blade' (loosely) I am unsure of the actual translation or etymology.

As far as 'Hungarian' blades, Jan Ostrowski ("Origins of the Polish Saber", 1979, p.222) notes, "...Hungarian blade production, if it existed at all, must have been very limited, for 17th century records tell of blade purchases from Styrian and Italian manufacturers and the great majority of surviving Hungarian sabers have Styrian and Genovese blades often marked with crescent moons and inscriptions GENOA, FRINGIA and FRANCIA".

QUESTION:
Over the years a very esoteric topic has come up occasionally, but now that most of those players writing have 'left the building'.....I wanted to pose this to you and colleagues well versed in Russian references:

That is THE TRANSYLVANIAN KNOT, which refers to curious in decipherable inscriptions and unusual images, devices etc. which are held to be magical occult and talismanic applications occurring on blades in Eastern Europe regions, notably Hungary.
I had a saber once which was apparently an Arab Bedouin example with one of these type blades (attached notes from years ago).

As far as I have found, the reference using this term comes from the important reference by the late Emma Astvatsaturyan, "Weapons of the Caucasian Nations"...the single plate showing this is in upper right.
Any way you guys might add the text translated that describes this unusual term and any particulars?

Dear Jim,

These blades are commonly found on both Ottoman and Caucasian swords and can be roughly dated to the period between the 1820s and 1860s, although use in later periods is also possible (see links below).

Note how the blade was shortened to create a tang suitable for shashka hilt scales.

There are no features that allow us to date this blade earlier than the period mentioned above.

Sergey Talantov suggests that these trade blades are of Ottoman origin (possibly manufactured in the Trabzon vilayet), or alternatively, inexpensive European imports (e.g., from Solingen). Since some of these blades are known to bear struck markings in Arabic at the forte, Talantov considers the Ottoman origin more likely.

https://objet.art/as/subscriptions/6...789e1e9aea8de7

https://objet.art/as/subscriptions/6...789e1e9aea6e8d

Turkoman thank you so much for this updated and clearly well informed update and perspective. I would be in accord with the suggestions on date of blade, and personally would be inclined to early 19th c. The inscriptions are what is most unusual, and here again, the Trabzon and Ottoman attribution seems most plausible. These kinds of engravings are indeed seen on many blades of the types of edged weapons from these regions, and obviously the hilt is of Ottoman form.........my original notions toward Arabia were ...a few years ago :)
Still wish I had it! most esoteric item not often seen in the usual collections here.