The value of the additional visual sources for the study of historical weapons.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by ariel

Even worse: Firdawsi (10-11 cen) was the author of Shahname.
The miniature as per net references is either 14 or 17 century.

Well ... try this approach:
The Shahname (The Book of Kings) was written by Firdawsi between 977 and 1010.
Later in time a number of sumptuous illustrated copies were edited, many of them broken up in sheets being sold out there during the 20th century, some reaching a price over 9000 pounds.
So it seems plausible that the discussed illustration was painted by a miniaturist of the so called Persian school during the 14th century; being currently exhibited in the Louvre.
So much for the early version of the Muslim saber