Interesting Tribal Shaska with wootz blade

RSWORD · 5th December 2004, 10:28 PM

Here is a good example of a tribal shaska but the rare feature is the wootz blade. The blade is very thin as was preferred in parts of the Caucasus. Wootz blades on Shaska's are relatively scarce and this one has a nice pattern.

Jim McDougall · 6th December 2004, 12:07 AM

Beautiful shashka example Rick!!
It really is unusual to see one with a wootz blade and with marking!! These distinctly fighting examples with simple horn grips are difficult to determine whether Chechen or Daghestani. If I am not mistaken the silver item that is placed in the grip is a form of award/medal and quite significant.
Keyboard about to short out..drool!!!

All the best,
Jim

ariel · 6th December 2004, 03:06 AM

I'd like to see the close-up of the handle, but I am willing to bet it is not an award. The awards worn on the sword handle are either St. Anna IV degree or St. George and neither has the configuration seen here. This one, looking like a comma, was a reasonably frequent decorative stud (or a between-studs gee-gaw) seen on either Circassian or, more often, Chechen shashkas. The blade is obviously Persian , taken from a Shamshir, and I would vote for the Chechen origin of the weapon.
Nice one... Pity the scabbard did not survive...

Jim McDougall · 6th December 2004, 03:34 AM

Ariel,
The award concept I was thinking of was concerning a Daghestani shashka that had an oval with serrated trim and was said to be a sort of tribal award. Weren't the other awards you note used on Russian shashkas and more as military honors?
I tend to agree with your observation that this is likely a Persian shamshir blade. Is there any key notes that would help distinguish a shashka such as this as Chechen vs. Daghestani by hilt characteristics? I know that the decorated niello and embossed hilts are said to be distinguished by some variation in the vegetal decor and depth of relief etc.
Best regards,
Jim

ariel · 6th December 2004, 05:17 PM

By the way, is it really wootz? I understand that the appearance of wootz is that of very small, tight and compact elongated grains. That was , at least, what I saw each and every time when I handled a real wootz sword and that is how all the examples in the Fiegel's book look like.
This one, in contrast, looks like longish, loose and haphazard threads. I would vote for Shams rather than Wootz.
Metallurgists, correct me!

RSWORD · 7th December 2004, 09:24 PM

Gentleman:

Thank you for the feedback thusfar. The teardrop decoration on the handle is inlayed with silver. I do not know if this is simply a decorative affectation or due to the precious metal, a sign of rank or symbol status. The combination of a wootz blade and silver inlay on the handle would make one think it was owned by someone that could afford those qualities.

Ariel,

It is definitely wootz. Sham is a terminology to describe a type of wootz. Wootz patterns come in a wide variety. Most authors on the subject divide wootz into no less than 4 or 5 categories based on pattern. Wootz that is termed sham typically has the long flowing grain with little contrast. Typically, Syrian or Turkish blades often feature this style and are termed sham. This blade has a bit more activity overall and has a very good color contrast so I would probably not label it as Sham.

5th December 2004, 10:28 PM	#1
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	Interesting Tribal Shaska with wootz blade Here is a good example of a tribal shaska but the rare feature is the wootz blade. The blade is very thin as was preferred in parts of the Caucasus. Wootz blades on Shaska's are relatively scarce and this one has a nice pattern. Attached Images

6th December 2004, 12:07 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,948	Beautiful shashka example Rick!! It really is unusual to see one with a wootz blade and with marking!! These distinctly fighting examples with simple horn grips are difficult to determine whether Chechen or Daghestani. If I am not mistaken the silver item that is placed in the grip is a form of award/medal and quite significant. Keyboard about to short out..drool!!! All the best, Jim

6th December 2004, 03:06 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I'd like to see the close-up of the handle, but I am willing to bet it is not an award. The awards worn on the sword handle are either St. Anna IV degree or St. George and neither has the configuration seen here. This one, looking like a comma, was a reasonably frequent decorative stud (or a between-studs gee-gaw) seen on either Circassian or, more often, Chechen shashkas. The blade is obviously Persian , taken from a Shamshir, and I would vote for the Chechen origin of the weapon. Nice one... Pity the scabbard did not survive...

6th December 2004, 03:34 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,948	Ariel, The award concept I was thinking of was concerning a Daghestani shashka that had an oval with serrated trim and was said to be a sort of tribal award. Weren't the other awards you note used on Russian shashkas and more as military honors? I tend to agree with your observation that this is likely a Persian shamshir blade. Is there any key notes that would help distinguish a shashka such as this as Chechen vs. Daghestani by hilt characteristics? I know that the decorated niello and embossed hilts are said to be distinguished by some variation in the vegetal decor and depth of relief etc. Best regards, Jim

6th December 2004, 05:17 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	By the way, is it really wootz? I understand that the appearance of wootz is that of very small, tight and compact elongated grains. That was , at least, what I saw each and every time when I handled a real wootz sword and that is how all the examples in the Fiegel's book look like. This one, in contrast, looks like longish, loose and haphazard threads. I would vote for Shams rather than Wootz. Metallurgists, correct me!

7th December 2004, 09:24 PM	#6
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	Gentleman: Thank you for the feedback thusfar. The teardrop decoration on the handle is inlayed with silver. I do not know if this is simply a decorative affectation or due to the precious metal, a sign of rank or symbol status. The combination of a wootz blade and silver inlay on the handle would make one think it was owned by someone that could afford those qualities. Ariel, It is definitely wootz. Sham is a terminology to describe a type of wootz. Wootz patterns come in a wide variety. Most authors on the subject divide wootz into no less than 4 or 5 categories based on pattern. Wootz that is termed sham typically has the long flowing grain with little contrast. Typically, Syrian or Turkish blades often feature this style and are termed sham. This blade has a bit more activity overall and has a very good color contrast so I would probably not label it as Sham.