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#1 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
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Hello,
I just got this Georgian Shashka and would like to know more about its blade. Is it European? Is it Daghestani? Is it Russian? Or is it maybe Georgian? ![]() |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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This is a late 19-early 20 century blade. The blade is Daghestani, most likely Amuzgi village. Etched eagle is often accompanied by a stamp of Mudunov’s workshop. The handle with false filigree is reminiscent of Tiflis manufacture, although Mudunov’s workshop was located in Vladikavkaz The etched figure of a man with saber may be related to shamkhals of Tarki, who were allowed to wear a feather in their headdress ( as per late Astvatsaturyan). Scabbard leather is replaced, and you may wish to check its wooden inserts
Did you buy it straight from Georgia? There is an abundance of first-rate professionals there who do excellent restauration or even total creation of Caucasian weapons. I am not good enough to pinpoint any more suspicious things from photographs. Oliver or Kirill Rivkin are orders of magnitude better and you may wish to ask them. |
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#3 |
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Location: Austria
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Thank you Ariel very much!
![]() I hope Oliver sees my posting and replies. If not, I will contact him directly. Do you know how can I contact Kiril Rivkin? Is he a member of this or any other forum? ![]() |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 456
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This is a good example of the Georgian work Ariel is referring to.
The grip looks original. The blade is old but may have been embellished recently. The scabbard is modern work: the mounts are set with pieces of women's belts, and the leather is new. |
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#5 |
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Location: Austria
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Thank you Oliver very much!
I like this blade a lot and I am quite relieved to hear it is not European. ![]() |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 94
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What makes you think the blade is Georgian
![]() Unfortunately, this is a very recent compilation.The auctions are full of copies from Georgia and skillful craftsmen from St. Petersburg. |
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#7 |
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Regretfully, Osobist is correct in general, and I tried to hint at the same trend: former Soviet republics are chock full of false “Caucasian “ weapons. After all, what else are they capable of manufacturing for export except for vodka, fur coats and caviar?
Nevertheless, in this particular case the situation is not as horrible: I am almost sure that the handle is original, and the blade also has a very high chance of being contemporaneous Daghestani. I was a bit uneasy about the mounts but their origin as per Oliver surprised me. I would never have thought about this source! That’s the difference between an amateur ( me) and a seasoned professional ( Oliver). Scabbard aside, IMHO it is a combination of Daghestani blade and Tiflis handle. Whether it was assembled thus 130 years or 130 days ago is a matter of debate. Somehow, I doubt that anybody will go as far as disassembling the shashka in search of epoxy glue. |
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