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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: musorian territory
Posts: 415
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well i dont recall these georgian khevsur swords being discussed on here but i find them curious, like yatagan meets shashka.
here is an article on these odd swords unfortunately only in russian.. https://docplayer.ru/46695176-Zapadn...ruzhiya-1.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXuZC63VWJg&t=502s i find these swords so odd , im very curious how they handle. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 147
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You can download this work of Vakhtang Kiziria and Irakly Bakradze in English by the link here:
https://www.academia.edu/14723908/SW..._EDGED_WEAPONS If you have any problems - write to me, I will send it to you. |
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#3 | |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: musorian territory
Posts: 415
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#4 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,286
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This form looks like it would be prone to turning in the hand during use with that canted hilt.
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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These swords usually are exhibited under the moniker “ Kabiani Khmali”, sword with a skirt.
In fact, their real name is unknown; the one we call them now was invented in the early 1900 or around, long after they went out of fashion, just on the basis of their appearance. And it stuck:-) What is interesting about them is : A. They were worn edge up B. They had no guard Bakradze and Kiziria view them as members of the “ shashka-like” sabers. |
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#6 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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This was one of the three ways Georgians prevented the turning problem: the other two were a grip that was oval, and the last one was gradual widening of the grip from the pommel to the crossguard. I never had the privilege to own or even handle a sword with the first and the last variety, but shashkas have oval grips as a rule and most of the kindjals have rectangular grips. |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 456
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I owned one of these skirted sabers many years ago. The grip was of rectangular section and did not turn in the hand when it was swung, in fact, ergonomically, the form would be difficult to improve on. The blade was long, slightly expanding toward the distal end, with radiused, clipped tip. The scabbard was of the same type shown in the first image. It had a paper museum label on it attributing it in Russian to a Georgian general and dated in the 1820s. I don't remember his name now.
These swords were virtually all made in and around Tbilisi. At the minimum, none of the examples pictured in this thread can be attributed to Khevsuria. |
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#8 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,885
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These are among the most intriguing Caucasian swords ever, and the actual form was used in mid to latter 18th c. though a degree of them were produced later as 'of the type'.
They are termed western Georgian 'palash' (=straight blade) and according to Kirill Rivkin ("Arms and Armor of the Caucusus", 2015, p.202, fig. 109...one of the most superb references to Caucasian arms...period!)...these were primarily Imerethi c. 1780s; or perhaps Dadiani of Mingrelia. They seem to have been deemed a sword for royalty or high status individuals. The curious 'skirt' on these have been supposed to be to protect the scabbard from chafing etc. from the body and trappings of the horse, and replaceable as required (better than replacing scabbard). King David II of Imerethi had one of these. I have never found any sort of explanation for the profoundly canted hilt, but presume it lent directed force to the draw cut (?) which was typically carried out with curved saber blades. It is notable that many Tatar sabers (known as 'ordynka' ) had unusually canted hilts in this manner, but unsure of this influence being significant. Note: These are not related to Khevsur swords, though Khevsur swords are somewhat within Georgian scope. The Khevsurs are a people situated high in Caucusus mountains above Tiflis (Tblisi) and are quite remote from Georgia proper. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 14th June 2021 at 09:21 PM. |
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