Indian sword for ID

Jim McDougall · 11th December 2011, 11:30 PM

Just for informations sake, these almost wildly recurved blades are also seen in the Transcaucasian swords known as 'kardok', described by J.Zichy in his "A Magyar Faj Vandor Pa'sa" (Budapest, 1897) . The title may be misspelled but I cannot read the handwriting in the notes from the donor.
These appear with notes on the so called 'Black Sea yataghan' later identified by Ariel as the Laz bichagi, but which for years were termed Kurdish-Armenian yataghans (Triikman/Jacobsen 1941; Seifert 1962).

These unusually recurved swords have been suggested to have come from earlier iconographic sources or traditionally revived forms and seem to have appeared around first half 19th century and to have diminished around the turn of the century. They are recognized with splayed fishtail or horned pommels, and some of the examples carry Caucasian style bifurcated pommel similar to the shashka.

While the same questions arise as to actual combat plausibility of these unusual blades (as noted on the Indian forms by E.Jaiwent Paul) they are clearly not intended as sacrificial or temple swords, but may have carried traditional impetus as ceremonial or court type weapons.

11th December 2011, 11:30 PM	#22
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Just for informations sake, these almost wildly recurved blades are also seen in the Transcaucasian swords known as 'kardok', described by J.Zichy in his "A Magyar Faj Vandor Pa'sa" (Budapest, 1897) . The title may be misspelled but I cannot read the handwriting in the notes from the donor. These appear with notes on the so called 'Black Sea yataghan' later identified by Ariel as the Laz bichagi, but which for years were termed Kurdish-Armenian yataghans (Triikman/Jacobsen 1941; Seifert 1962). These unusually recurved swords have been suggested to have come from earlier iconographic sources or traditionally revived forms and seem to have appeared around first half 19th century and to have diminished around the turn of the century. They are recognized with splayed fishtail or horned pommels, and some of the examples carry Caucasian style bifurcated pommel similar to the shashka. While the same questions arise as to actual combat plausibility of these unusual blades (as noted on the Indian forms by E.Jaiwent Paul) they are clearly not intended as sacrificial or temple swords, but may have carried traditional impetus as ceremonial or court type weapons.