Nomadic swords

[Philip]

You might want to see how the concept survived the post-medieval period, here illustrated by examples from the Mamluk and Chinese culture-spheres. To keep things more evenly comparable, these are all made by chiseling the shape in the steel of the blade, not by installing a separate component made of sheet iron or other metal. And all have the long side towards the edge of the blade.

The Islamic ones retain the feature in a stylistic sense only. By the end of the 15th cent. when these two blades were made, the original functional purpose of the device that inspired its use in medieval Eurasia had morphed into a stylized, decorative element. The two examples are identified as Mamluk; both are in the Topkapi Sarayi Museum. In the Furusiyya Foundation collection, there is a blade (inv. no. R-229) identified as Ottoman, 17th cent. that has a very similar feature (see The Arts of the Muslim Knight, 207, cat. no. 30, p 66)

The two Chinese ones are in private collections; the earlier one 16th-17th cent., the other one a century later. As with the Islamic ones, they have become more stylistic than functional. Indeed, by the 19th cent., tunkou fell largely into disuse on Chinese sabers.

[ariel]

I know the Mamluk ones.

Do you have Kirill Rivkin’s book on Eastern swords?
There are tons of data and very intelligent discussions of Nomadic, Mamluk and Ottoman tunkous.
And, yes, I do have pics of some Golden Horde yataghan-like blades. AFAIK, some have tunkous. Will post later.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by ariel

I know the Mamluk ones.

Do you have Kirill Rivkin’s book on Eastern swords?
There are tons of data and very intelligent discussions of Nomadic, Mamluk and Ottoman tunkous.
And, yes, I do have pics of some Golden Horde yataghan-like blades. AFAIK, some have tunkous. Will post later.

This post is extremely interesting, thank you Ariel.

I have Rivkin's book. I like it, but a lot of data are in fact personnal judgment and opinions. The whole diffusion process is not supported by scientific arguments. Then one part of the book is very similar to "Arms and armor of Caucasus". I have this book too and I prefer this book more grounded in the litterature...

Nomadic swords means what in fact?
Steppic swords? Central Asian swords? Or Horsemen Swords?
The Tuaregs were also nomadic...

Kubur

[Kubur]

To answer to Jim, Arial and Teodor posts I have to quote Philip.

Originally Posted by Philip

these are all made by chiseling the shape in the steel of the blade, not by installing a separate component made of sheet iron or other metal. And all have the long side towards the edge of the blade.

The Islamic ones retain the feature in a stylistic sense only. By the end of the 15th cent. when these two blades were made, the original functional purpose of the device that inspired its use in medieval Eurasia had morphed into a stylized, decorative element.

and to add

Sometimes it's not chiseled in the blade but added on the blade like cooper plates on the yatagan for example or the Tabouka.

Clearly decorative but as Philip noticed, the remain of an ancient practise, most probably functionnal.

Why, how and when I don't know.
It just notice that it happens on curved blades but also on straight blades...

I don't have any answer but additionnal comments...

Saying that I have my opinion
First it's to fix blade, guard and hilt alltogether like the nihonto
Second to absorb shocks during a fight
Third to maintain the blade in the scabbard