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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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I have seen European hunting swords with "damascus" blades before, but have never seen one with a wootz blade, and an Islamic cartouche in addition. The blade here is of quality wootz, and I no reason to believe it is a cut-down sword...perhaps someone can convince me otherwise.
I know nothing of European swords, much less European hunting swords, so I am trying to learn a few things about this one. Its hilt is stag horn with steel mounts, including the common shell style guard. Is it a custom made sword in a certain European form(ie. German)? Is it more likely to be a Persian or Indian sword, simply mimicking European styles? Looking forward to hearing opinions! Can anyone translate the cartouche? |
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#2 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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What great wootz!
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 584
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I agree with Battara, beautiful Wooten. The hilt and quillons seem plain for such a blade. I think that I can make out a date in tha bottom cartouche but the gold on the second number in the bottom left hand corner is worn and I am guessing that it is a 2. I make the date AH 1221 which equates to AD 1806 which seems about right for the sword. Others with better eyesight than me may disagree sorry I can't offer any more and thanks for posting.
Regards Miguel |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
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Thanks guys!
Miguel, thanks especially for your translation. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Chania Crete Greece
Posts: 506
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To me, the second digit on the date looks like "o" That gives a date of 1021 islamic, ie 1612, which looks much more likely for such a quality blade. Also, the second digit cannot be a "worn two" because even if it was, the remaining lines
do not correspond with the shape of the other "2" on the right. |
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#6 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Nashville
Posts: 314
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the rest says, Servant of Shah e Welaayet (Imam Ali the first Imam and the fourth Caliph) Abbas. This is the correct reading of this type of seal, I believe I have explained this elsewhere. The bottom seal reads, Work of Kalb Ali ibn e Assad. Very nice blade, the patterns is beautiful. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 525
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Congratulations to a very beautiful hunting sword.
As far as I can judge from the pictures, the pattern becomes finer close to the edge as a result of elaborate hammering to increase the quality of the blade. Even close to the point the pattern becomes narrow. So I dont think this blade is a shortened whatever. It is imho a British or French hunting sword and probably a contract work for a British or French citizen, which lived in India or Iran. Or maybe a present to an European officer or so. I own an Indian Tulwar with a pipeback-blade oriented on a British pattern from early 19th ct.. So it was not too unusual for Indian and even Iranian smiths to make European edged weapons from wootz. If I remember correctly, Kalib Ali is the son of the very famous Assadallah and in this case your sword is a magnificent one. But he lived to early to make a hunting sword in shape of a German deer catcher and all of his longswords I know are curved. Roland |
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