The making of a kindjal

delor · 7th March 2014, 03:43 PM

Thanks a lot !

Here are some photos of the kindjal and its scabbard with all fittings.
As you have seen we finally decided not to put the coat of arms on the throat of the scabbard, but keep the fittings as the original genuine model. We switched to a smaller engraving on the blade with just the owner initials.

All fittings are gilded with niello, and made by a goldsmith I'm working with.

archer burak · 16th March 2014, 11:12 PM

there is no word absulatly fabulose

Battara · 19th March 2014, 01:12 AM

Impressive. I bow in your presence!

delor · 2nd April 2014, 03:00 PM

Thanks a lot to all of you.
I'd like to add a few comments to this work. It has been very instructive to base it on informations from genuine pieces :
- one genuine kindjal that I could not show because at the time photos were from an ongoing auction,
- another one, genuine owned by Atlantia, who had been very kind to give me a number of informations about the various sizes (length, thickness, distal tape...).
I have done my best to remain as close as possible to these informations. From the first one, I took the design of the fittings and niello work. from the second one I took all the relevant dimensions.
The only noticeable difference is assembly of horn pieces for the handle. Although most of it is exactly the same as genuine kindjals, I chose not to hot bend the horn around the blade curvature, but to flatten the steel so that the horn pieces can take place with no constraint. We all have noticed that the parts of the handle often lose adjustements as times passes, and hot formed pieces never keep their exact shape. Flattening the steel takes more time and this is probably why it was not the preferred solution in old times, but for me it looked better.
Apart from this, I believe most of the work is very similar to the usual way of making kindjals.

I have been rather surprised with the usability of the resulting blade. From the measurements given by Atlantia , I was a bit afraid that the blade might be quite heavy and maybe too thick to allow a good edge. On the contrary, it appears to be very "agile", and the edge naturally came extremely sharp with no effort. It clearly shows that this design is very effective as the result of experience, use and adjustments over the years !

The small engraving on the blade is based on a common design I have seen on many others ancient objects, and is composed of a crown and a monogram. According to the client requirements, we used a police that is supposed to be "ancient slavonic", but I must say I don't know much about it...

The fittings have been made by a goldsmith I work with. He is not very familiar with those cultural codes from Caucasus and he noticed some interesting differences from the natural behaviors he already has for occidental craftsmanship. In example, the banner-like pattern that runs all along the scabbard fittings is not left / right symetrical as one would expect it to be. Not very noticeable at first look but very significative regarding the origin of the work.

I believe we now might go on with a shashka to match this kindjal. I'll let you know if this project comes to life, and maybe will ask you again for some help with your irremplacable experience concerning genuine arms.

Kind regards,
Bernard

weapons 27 · 3rd April 2014, 05:26 AM

félicitations pour le travail!!
super travail d'orfèvrerie,
par contre je pense que sur la plupart des kindjal
la poignée ne s"emboite pas dans le fourreau!
quel cuir avez vous utilisé pour recouvrir le fourreau ?
car j'ai quelques restaurations a faire!
merci
antoine

delor · 3rd April 2014, 08:07 AM

Thanks ! I will use english to answer your questions as this is an english-speaking forum.
You are right to say that on most kindjals the handle and the scabbard do not slot, at least as long as they are not covered with metal fittings, they just juxtapose like this :

But when the handle is metal-covered, the metal fitting at the throat of the scabbard usually slots into the metal fitting of the handle. An enlarged ring of the handle fitting allows the scabbard to fit inside it. You can find many examples in the forum :
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kindjal
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kindjal

The scabbard is covered with thinned goat skin (which is commonly used with most of the genuine kindjals)

Regards,
Bernard

cicak_cobing · 3rd April 2014, 12:03 PM

wow, i'm lost for words..

i cannot imagine the time and effort put into this stunning piece of art..
look forward to see more work-in-progress projects from you here..

7th March 2014, 03:43 PM	#1
delor Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marseille - France Posts: 73	Thanks a lot ! Here are some photos of the kindjal and its scabbard with all fittings. As you have seen we finally decided not to put the coat of arms on the throat of the scabbard, but keep the fittings as the original genuine model. We switched to a smaller engraving on the blade with just the owner initials. All fittings are gilded with niello, and made by a goldsmith I'm working with.

16th March 2014, 11:12 PM	#2
archer burak Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: İstanbul Posts: 22	there is no word absulatly fabulose

19th March 2014, 01:12 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,270	Impressive. I bow in your presence!

2nd April 2014, 03:00 PM	#4
delor Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marseille - France Posts: 73	Thanks a lot to all of you. I'd like to add a few comments to this work. It has been very instructive to base it on informations from genuine pieces : - one genuine kindjal that I could not show because at the time photos were from an ongoing auction, - another one, genuine owned by Atlantia, who had been very kind to give me a number of informations about the various sizes (length, thickness, distal tape...). I have done my best to remain as close as possible to these informations. From the first one, I took the design of the fittings and niello work. from the second one I took all the relevant dimensions. The only noticeable difference is assembly of horn pieces for the handle. Although most of it is exactly the same as genuine kindjals, I chose not to hot bend the horn around the blade curvature, but to flatten the steel so that the horn pieces can take place with no constraint. We all have noticed that the parts of the handle often lose adjustements as times passes, and hot formed pieces never keep their exact shape. Flattening the steel takes more time and this is probably why it was not the preferred solution in old times, but for me it looked better. Apart from this, I believe most of the work is very similar to the usual way of making kindjals. I have been rather surprised with the usability of the resulting blade. From the measurements given by Atlantia , I was a bit afraid that the blade might be quite heavy and maybe too thick to allow a good edge. On the contrary, it appears to be very "agile", and the edge naturally came extremely sharp with no effort. It clearly shows that this design is very effective as the result of experience, use and adjustments over the years ! The small engraving on the blade is based on a common design I have seen on many others ancient objects, and is composed of a crown and a monogram. According to the client requirements, we used a police that is supposed to be "ancient slavonic", but I must say I don't know much about it... The fittings have been made by a goldsmith I work with. He is not very familiar with those cultural codes from Caucasus and he noticed some interesting differences from the natural behaviors he already has for occidental craftsmanship. In example, the banner-like pattern that runs all along the scabbard fittings is not left / right symetrical as one would expect it to be. Not very noticeable at first look but very significative regarding the origin of the work. I believe we now might go on with a shashka to match this kindjal. I'll let you know if this project comes to life, and maybe will ask you again for some help with your irremplacable experience concerning genuine arms. Kind regards, Bernard

3rd April 2014, 05:26 AM	#5
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	félicitations pour le travail!! super travail d'orfèvrerie, par contre je pense que sur la plupart des kindjal la poignée ne s"emboite pas dans le fourreau! quel cuir avez vous utilisé pour recouvrir le fourreau ? car j'ai quelques restaurations a faire! merci antoine

3rd April 2014, 08:07 AM	#6
delor Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marseille - France Posts: 73	Thanks ! I will use english to answer your questions as this is an english-speaking forum. You are right to say that on most kindjals the handle and the scabbard do not slot, at least as long as they are not covered with metal fittings, they just juxtapose like this : But when the handle is metal-covered, the metal fitting at the throat of the scabbard usually slots into the metal fitting of the handle. An enlarged ring of the handle fitting allows the scabbard to fit inside it. You can find many examples in the forum : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kindjal http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kindjal The scabbard is covered with thinned goat skin (which is commonly used with most of the genuine kindjals) Regards, Bernard

3rd April 2014, 12:03 PM	#7
cicak_cobing Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 20	wow, i'm lost for words.. i cannot imagine the time and effort put into this stunning piece of art.. look forward to see more work-in-progress projects from you here..