Khevsurian sword

[Iain]

Fantastic piece! I for one would love to see closeups up the decorative elements on the scabbard fittings and the cross guard.

I know very little about these swords but have had a passing interest in the Khevsureti ever since I saw the film "The Land of the Lost Crusaders" http://www.gfmstudio.com/productions/lostcrusaders

In fact I had hopes to make a trip into the region two years ago, but political events at the time made this less than advisable. I have always found the watch towers and fortresses of this isolated people fascinating. The wikipedia page has some good photographs of these buildings as well as a couple of period photos of Khevsurian warriors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khevsureti

Out of interest, would these swords have been manufactured locally? Just hilted locally? I'm rather fuzzy about the sword industry in Georgia as a whole.

[ariel]

Very nice piece, but I disagree about its attribution. This is a typical Georgian Khmali, saber, in Persian style. Khevsurian sabers ( palashes) are cruder, their handles are different and brass bands are the must.
There is, indeed, a proliferation of Khevsurian swords on the market, many not fakes, but actually homages, and are honestly signed by the contemporary master, Mr. Kharanauli.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by ariel

Very nice piece, but I disagree about its attribution. This is a typical Georgian Khmali, saber, in Persian style. Khevsurian sabers ( palashes) are cruder, their handles are different and brass bands are the must.

Ariel, thanks for coming in. If anyone would know, I knew you would, thank you for clearing that up.

So it is the dress the sword is in more than the sword itself that denoted this Khmali attribution Ariel?

I ask, as an example, a recent auction had both described within its catalogue. Swords labeled as Khmali that shared by large degree many similar attributes with the hilts of Khevsurian swords. In the same auction a Khevsurian Palashe shared the same but cruder motifs on the guard and suspension fittings as this example does...in simple terms, not clear cut to myself.

What should be considered when delving in to this world and seperation of the two labels, or more so identifying the Khmali attribution.

You note 'typical' too Ariel, I know it is in reference to styling but how typical are these sabres? I know I do not see swords like the one above very often at all and untouched as found examples even less.

Originally Posted by ariel

There is, indeed, a proliferation of Khevsurian swords on the market, many not fakes, but actually homages, and are honestly signed by the contemporary master, Mr. Kharanauli.

Thank you for clearing this up Ariel, I guess it is up to the seller to then pass this information on that I suspect they don't know as too many seem to be refered to as 19th century

[ALEX]

Agree with Ariel. This is Georgian saber. Here is another one in Persian shamshir type.

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks Alex, nice to see other varients of Georgian sabres, interesting to note the inclusion of the 'gazelle' on the drag, kinda highlights in a way, one plausible notation the history or the lion/leopard motifs on these swords.

Can you address the division of points asked above in relation to the shared factors on the swords of Khmali and Khevsur design elements in the hilts etc?

Do you consider the one you present a trophy or war or a sword of trade decorated in native Georgian fashion?

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by ariel

... Khevsurian sabers ( palashes) are cruder, their handles are different and brass bands are the must...

correct - the brass bands are characteristic for hilts (and scabbards!). There could also be brass inlays on crossguards, as on our examples. Below is another example of a crossguard with brass inlay elements. The brass inlay is more of a Georgian feature, but the cheaselled script is Persian.

Gav, it is hard to say whether it is "trophy or war or a sword of trade decorated in native Georgian fashion". My opinion is toward the later - the Persian blade is much more likely to be a "trade" object, furnished in local style, by commission/order or to make it more saleable - still a well practiced trade, whereas the "trophies of war" is not as much, thankfully.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by ALEX

correct - the brass bands are characteristic for hilts (and scabbards!). There could also be brass inlays on crossguards, as on our examples. Below is another example of a crossguard with brass inlay elements. The brass inlay is more of a Georgian feature, but the cheaselled script is Persian.

Gav, it is hard to say whether it is "trophy or war or a sword of trade decorated in native Georgian fashion". My opinion is toward the later - the Persian blade is much more likely to be a "trade" object, furnished in local style, by commission/order or to make it more sellable - still a well practiced trade, whereas the "trophies of war" is not, Thanks God!

Thanks Alex, I was glad to see the edit ;-)

Here is one below listed at AI as

"A RARE KHEVSUR KHMALI SWORD"...why both denominations...covering all bases or am I missing something.

Below it is an image of what I believe to be a Khevseur warrior, look close to the sword, it appears to have no bands and be of a Persian form.

Explanations please

[Gavin Nugent]

BUMP

No takers, no guessing???

There was a wealth of knowledge from members when reading past posts about weapons from these regions

[Gavin Nugent]

A couple of more images that also show other Khevsureti with curved sabres of Pesian styling and scabbards free from brass binding...

The upper image, the middle chap with an unbound scabbard, curved sabre with a hilt type often refered to as Khmali....

The lower image labeled Khevsurian as is the image in the post above, again, a curved sabre with unbound scabbard and Persian style hilt.

There seems to be no absolute about Khevsur swords just a majority of brass bound swords....what gives?

Also here at 2min 21 and 2min 25(being the same image from the above post);

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Pq8...eature=related


....more questions than answers...anyone want to break from tradition and offer an explanation as to the subtleties of these sabres.....and with khmali being old world Georgian, where does one turn to in a new world for details....

Ariel, your up to speed with this I am sure, do you understand enough to offer a better explanation

Gav

[Gavin Nugent]

A long awaited bump.

Clear photographic evidence provided and auction edivence from those who know but no one wanted to put forth an explanation despite firm resolutions about what swords these warriors used should be and looked like.

Surely someone want to go against tradition and provide a theory behind or beyond it....