Kilij with square kufic inscriptions

[ham]

Rand,

How did you establish this?

Muhammad was the one who started the use of text to decorate weapons and armor for talismanic purposes in the Islamic empire.

Further:

One thing to take note of is the 16th century swords above have animal skin wrapped over the handle.

This is not invariable. The sword you pictured above with the grip covered in green rayskin, for example, is a late replacement.



Ham

[rand]

Hi Ham,

The sword with the ray skin wrapped handle belonged to
Selim I Yavuz (16th C.)

The sword pictured here belinged to
Sultan Suleyman (16th C.)
appears to be black leather wrapped.

Both these swords are on display at the Turkish Military Museum,

I assumed these coveted swords to have been safely housed and kept for centuries, any information you have to the contrary or indicating later use please share.


Reguarding Muhammad putting verses from the Quran on his arms and armor I will look for that reference and get back to you.


Appreciate your input,

rand

[ham]

Your assumption is inaccurate, unfortunately. This too, is a 19th century rehilt as are many of the others displayed in various Turkish museums. The guard and pommel are Persian or Afghan work, and there is a strong tendency for grips on this type to be leather-covered wood.
The mounts of the swords of the Rightly Guided Ones, preserved in the Reliquary at Topkapi, are more or less all 16th century; they are a reasonably reliable reference for mounts of that period. See
Yucel, Unsal: Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths, Istanbul: IRCICA, 2001.

Ham

[rand]

Originally Posted by ham

Your assumption is inaccurate, unfortunately. This too, is a 19th century rehilt as are many of the others displayed in various Turkish museums. The guard and pommel are Persian or Afghan work, and there is a strong tendency for grips on this type to be leather-covered wood.
The mounts of the swords of the Rightly Guided Ones, preserved in the Reliquary at Topkapi, are more or less all 16th century; they are a reasonably reliable reference for mounts of that period. See
Yucel, Unsal: Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths, Istanbul: IRCICA, 2001.

Ham

Hi Ham,

Are you refering to quote "Most of the swords housed in the Holy Relics section at the Topkapi Palace Museum were, following the conquest of Egypt, repaired and redecorated between 923-927 hijia C.E. In most cases their hilts and scabbards were completely replaced" , page 64, Islamic Swords and SwordSmiths.

Looked but found no mention of Suleymans sword in Yucels book.

The crossguard on Suleymans sword pictured above sword looks a later replacement to me, especially the shape of the ends of the quillons does not fit 16th century style. The pierce work on the crossguard on it looks more to the Persian taste.

rand