Early Islamic Signature

[rand]

Is the signature or inscription readable? Is on an early Islamic blade.

http://earlyislamicsword.blogspot.com/


rand

[rand]

Whole Sword Photo

Overall length 35 &1/4"

Blade length 31"

[rand]

This is a blade curvature photo study of the kilij compared to a very early shamshir blade with a shallow curve. The kilij sword is laid over the top of the shamshir on the bottom photo and the shamshir laid over the top of the kilij on the upper photo. Its shows that the two swords have very similar blade curvatures.

rand

[rand]

In this photo the kilij is laid over a classic shaped shamshir from the period of SHah Abbas. You can see how the curvature changes when the blades near their tips. The shamshir underneath has a very long 35" blade that makes the kilj look short, the kilij blade is 31" in length.

rand

[rand]

Comparison of the blades front sections side by side

[rand]

Notice how thick the gold is overlayed in the design,

[rand]

Originally Posted by rand

Is the signature or inscription readable? Is on an early Islamic blade.

http://earlyislamicsword.blogspot.com/


rand

Have been comparing top inscription to Islamic alphabets and am wondering if its says either "Allah" or " something Allah", your help is appreciated....

rand

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hey Rand,

These are very beautiful swords, and what you show for evidence looks very interesting.

Jens

[rand]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Hey Rand,

These are very beautiful swords, and what you show for evidence looks very interesting.

Jens

Thanks Jens,

This has been a fascinating study. Overlaying the swords on each other was an eye opener.

One thing to note is that on the raised areas of design the steel is a dark color, in a raised areas such as this you would expect to have scabbard wear polishing the raised steel areas bright. You can see how the wear has even worn away some of the raised steel decoration in places. To me this implys that some has stained the blade in recent years to bring out the pattern in the steel and did not want to risk damaging any of the gold decoration when repolishing avoiding getting close. Will contemplate this over time as it may be something to correct.

rand

[rand]

Originally Posted by rand

Is the signature or inscription readable? Is on an early Islamic blade.

http://earlyislamicsword.blogspot.com/


rand

Am working on translating this, are there four a's ( one vertical mark for beginning "a" and the three short marks on bottom for middle a's) and two l's?

rand

[Jens Nordlunde]

Rand, a very interesting observation, I wonder how many made the same observation - I did not, although I should have.

[rand]

Some Early Ottoman swords and one other.......

Top sword dates 1481-1512
Overall length 100cm
Blade length 85cm

Second sword dated 1506-7
Overall length 92cm
Blade length 81cm

Third sword
dated 1506-7
Overall length 95.5cm
Blade length 80.5cm

Fourth sword
Overall length 91cm
Blade length 79.5cm

[Jens Nordlunde]

A fantastic display Rand. One who may be able to help with a translation, is the former director of Top Kapi Museum in Istanbul, Yuncel - if he is still alive.
Jens

[rand]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

A fantastic display Rand. One who may be able to help with a translation, is the former director of Top Kapi Museum in Istanbul, Yuncel - if he is still alive.
Jens

Hey Jens,

Have followed up on your suggestion and sent an email attention to him to the Islamic Research group he worked with....

rand