Safavid or qajar blade?

ariel · 23rd April 2022, 03:48 AM

This blade was forged from a high-class KaraTaban, the ultimate variety of Persian bulats.
It came into existence during Safavid dynasry ( perhaps even as early as Shah Abbas I reign and by and large disappeared during the late Qajar dynasty (1789-1925).
Name of Abbas doesn’t help: it was inscribed on multiple swords from various countries and as late as the end of 19 century together with names of Assadulla and Kalb-e Ali, both of whom lived in the 17 century.

Thus, there is no way we can assign this blade to either dynasty with any degree of certainty.
Longitudinally split blades must have been by and large ceremonial: the split segments, especially wootz, were by their very nature very fragile and any strong battlefield contact would fracture them. Perhaps, that was the cause of that blade’s failure. Subsequent rusting did not help.

23rd April 2022, 03:48 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	This blade was forged from a high-class KaraTaban, the ultimate variety of Persian bulats. It came into existence during Safavid dynasry ( perhaps even as early as Shah Abbas I reign and by and large disappeared during the late Qajar dynasty (1789-1925). Name of Abbas doesn’t help: it was inscribed on multiple swords from various countries and as late as the end of 19 century together with names of Assadulla and Kalb-e Ali, both of whom lived in the 17 century. Thus, there is no way we can assign this blade to either dynasty with any degree of certainty. Longitudinally split blades must have been by and large ceremonial: the split segments, especially wootz, were by their very nature very fragile and any strong battlefield contact would fracture them. Perhaps, that was the cause of that blade’s failure. Subsequent rusting did not help.