Cuacasian pride

Yannis · 19th February 2005, 07:11 PM

Brass parts are very shiny because someone cleaned it too much! Fortunatly old patina exists in places that he couldnt clean!

Jeff D · 19th February 2005, 07:17 PM

Hi Yannis,

If only I could convey my envy in writing!!! Well done.

Jeff

Conogre · 19th February 2005, 10:03 PM

Another that I didn't know existed and truly beautiful ...... congratulations on a truly excellent find.
Do you have any idea where this may have originated?
Also, is the hilt enamled silver?
Sorry for all of the questions, but I have a very ornate shasqa that has a decor on the hilt and scabbard boththat appears to me to be very similar the hilt on the wonderful sword that you pictured.
Mike

Rivkin · 19th February 2005, 11:05 PM

Is the blade double edged ? If it is, it's even more rare than usual palash. The double edged guys tend to mount extremely old blades (mostly western XVI-XVIII century), imho.

And afaik georgian sabre/palash usually has the hilt going at the angle to the blade, while only khevsurian or chechen can be both straight and angled position of the hilt.

Rivkin · 19th February 2005, 11:07 PM

with an exception of coarse of a georgian shamshir and a georgian "ordynka"

Yannis · 19th February 2005, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conogre

Do you have any idea where this may have originated? Also, is the hilt enamled silver?

I think I know exactly the origin of it. Khevsureti, Georgia, close to Chechenya border, up to the mountains of Caucasus. The hilt is all silver with niello.

Rivkin,
No, the blade is not double edge. In this kind of swords there is no "standard" blade. It can be straight like this or with litle curved like shasqa. With fulers or without.

The guard is steel. It has a cross on that I think it is typical georgian and khevsur ornament. Actually it is matching with my avatar (a kevsur shield).

Rivkin · 20th February 2005, 12:52 AM

o, this is khevsur, no questions about it.

Jim McDougall · 20th February 2005, 01:10 AM

Yannis,
This is most definitely a Khevsur straight sabre, from these tribal people high in Caucusus in Georgia. The hilt form, niello etc. is typically Khevsur and most often these blades are trade blades or Chechen. The swords are actually quite rare despite most being relatively recent from latter part of 19th century.
This is truly a beautiful example Yannis! and I agree, extremely well done!!
An excellent resource for data on these, aside from the book by Astvatsaturjian on Caucasian weapons and in Russian text, is Iaroslav Lebedynsky's "Les Armes Cosaques et Caucasiennes" published in French, where Khevsur warriors are seen wearing these as well as chain mail armor in latter 19th c. They are known to have been using these well into the 20th century.

All the best,
Jim

tom hyle · 20th February 2005, 02:03 AM

Interestingly, as has happened to so many old blades, it appears someone has clamped this blade in an unpadded or inadequately padded vice at some time. I see a lot of scars like those at the base of the blade.

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19th February 2005, 07:11 PM	#1
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Brass parts are very shiny because someone cleaned it too much! Fortunatly old patina exists in places that he couldnt clean!

19th February 2005, 07:17 PM	#2
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi Yannis, If only I could convey my envy in writing!!! Well done. Jeff

19th February 2005, 10:03 PM	#3
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Another that I didn't know existed and truly beautiful ...... congratulations on a truly excellent find. Do you have any idea where this may have originated? Also, is the hilt enamled silver? Sorry for all of the questions, but I have a very ornate shasqa that has a decor on the hilt and scabbard boththat appears to me to be very similar the hilt on the wonderful sword that you pictured. Mike

19th February 2005, 11:05 PM	#4
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	Is the blade double edged ? If it is, it's even more rare than usual palash. The double edged guys tend to mount extremely old blades (mostly western XVI-XVIII century), imho. And afaik georgian sabre/palash usually has the hilt going at the angle to the blade, while only khevsurian or chechen can be both straight and angled position of the hilt.

19th February 2005, 11:07 PM	#5
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	with an exception of coarse of a georgian shamshir and a georgian "ordynka"

20th February 2005, 12:52 AM	#7
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	o, this is khevsur, no questions about it.

20th February 2005, 01:10 AM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,872	Yannis, This is most definitely a Khevsur straight sabre, from these tribal people high in Caucusus in Georgia. The hilt form, niello etc. is typically Khevsur and most often these blades are trade blades or Chechen. The swords are actually quite rare despite most being relatively recent from latter part of 19th century. This is truly a beautiful example Yannis! and I agree, extremely well done!! An excellent resource for data on these, aside from the book by Astvatsaturjian on Caucasian weapons and in Russian text, is Iaroslav Lebedynsky's "Les Armes Cosaques et Caucasiennes" published in French, where Khevsur warriors are seen wearing these as well as chain mail armor in latter 19th c. They are known to have been using these well into the 20th century. All the best, Jim

20th February 2005, 02:03 AM	#9
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Interestingly, as has happened to so many old blades, it appears someone has clamped this blade in an unpadded or inadequately padded vice at some time. I see a lot of scars like those at the base of the blade.