Shamshir with provenance

[DaveS]

We have owned this shamshir for many years. We bought it at a San
Francisco gun show from a man who was the provost marshal for the
Southern N.A.T.O. Command in Europe after W.W.2. The blade is 29 inches
in a straight line, and 35 inches overal, with a wootz blade of Kara Khorassan.
The scabbard is made of three pieces so as to be taken apart for cleaning.
The blade has a cartouche which sadly has lost it's gold. The belt and
silver buckles are 100 percent intact.
This sword was owned by the late Martin H. Mitchell. Here is the
written provenance from his wife, which accompanied the sword.

Statement Of Provenance.

The antique silver mounted Pakistani sword and belt were presented to
my husband the late Martin H. Mitchell, in 1960 in Karachi, Pakistan. Mr.
Mitchell was in charge of foreign operations in that country for the
Tidewater Oil Co., a property of J. Paul Getty. They conducted surface
Petroleum surveys and exploratory drilling in Baluchistan for six years.
During a portion of our service there Pakistan suffered a severe cholera
epidemic in several remote areas including the Sind desert. My husband
volunteered the use of Getty corporate aircraft and resources. He sent a
quantity of shrouds down to the Sind so that they could bury their dead.
His cultural sensitivity to this need was deeply appreciated.
The ruler of the Makram tribe in the epidemic area was a sheikh who
had been educated a Sandhurst. When he presented this sword to my
husband as a token of gratitude from his people to the distinguished
American, He said that the silver scabbard and mounts had been made in
Hyderabad, India, and that the blade had come from Persia, and that it
had seen combat in the Sind where his ancestors were traditional leaders.
This sword has been in our continuous possession for over 30 years.


Mrs. Martin H. Mitchell
San Ramon, California
1993.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by DaveS

We have owned this shamshir for many years. We bought it at a San
Francisco gun show from a man who was the provost marshal for the
Southern N.A.T.O. Command in Europe after W.W.2. The blade is 29 inches
in a straight line, and 35 inches overal, with a wootz blade of Kara Khorassan.
The scabbard is made of three pieces so as to be taken apart for cleaning.
The blade has a cartouche which sadly has lost it's gold. The belt and
silver buckles are 100 percent intact.
This sword was owned by the late Martin H. Mitchell. Here is the
written provenance from his wife, which accompanied the sword.

Statement Of Provenance.

The antique silver mounted Pakistani sword and belt were presented to
my husband the late Martin H. Mitchell, in 1960 in Karachi, Pakistan. Mr.
Mitchell was in charge of foreign operations in that country for the
Tidewater Oil Co., a property of J. Paul Getty. They conducted surface
Petroleum surveys and exploratory drilling in Baluchistan for six years.
During a portion of our service there Pakistan suffered a severe cholera
epidemic in several remote areas including the Sind desert. My husband
volunteered the use of Getty corporate aircraft and resources. He sent a
quantity of shrouds down to the Sind so that they could bury their dead.
His cultural sensitivity to this need was deeply appreciated.
The ruler of the Makram tribe in the epidemic area was a sheikh who
had been educated a Sandhurst. When he presented this sword to my
husband as a token of gratitude from his people to the distinguished
American, He said that the silver scabbard and mounts had been made in
Hyderabad, India, and that the blade had come from Persia, and that it
had seen combat in the Sind where his ancestors were traditional leaders.
This sword has been in our continuous possession for over 30 years.


Mrs. Martin H. Mitchell
San Ramon, California
1993.

Salaams... or should I say it in Baluchi. "Choneto'- Chetore'- Barabere' Bombarte'?- Kheriet ...Washe' ".

What a nice sword and rare to have such a full, complete and personal provenance. A splendid example of Shamshiir with wootz blade. Personally it is also very interesting to see the complete belt format with furniture intact. Thank you for presenting this sword.

Another below from Pinterest on web accompanied by some atmospheric pictures for interest.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi

[AJ1356]

The description on the provenance written by the previous owner is dead on. It is a Persian blade and the rest is Hyderabad. A very nice piece, great find.

[estcrh]

David I edited your original image a bit, any chance of getting a shot of the sword belt laid flat, these are a very rare item to find intact, thanks for posting.

[DaveS]

estcrh: I'll try to post a picture of the belt laid as flat as i can tommorow.
Dave.

[DaveS]

Ibrahimm: I can make out what seems to be "ALLAH" in the lower part of
the cartouche, but is it possible to make out the rest on the basis
of the dots?............Dave.

[AJ1356]

Dave,
The seal seems to read something along the same lines as most other Safavid blade seals, seems like Banda e shah e welaayat, and then some kings name.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by AJ1356

Dave,
The seal seems to read something along the same lines as most other Safavid blade seals, seems like Banda e shah e welaayat, and then some kings name.

Salaams Yes a lot of them have this odd Banda something ...
Often rather difficult to read..

[CharlesS]

Awesome piece Dave. Not only a gorgeous sword, but so nice to find in such a complete state with all the accoutrements.

Super nice!

[DaveS]

Thanks guys for your help..........Dave.