Curious marriage: a Kard

Gonzoadler · 18th January 2021, 08:28 PM

More pictures:

Gonzoadler · 18th January 2021, 08:29 PM

And some from the scabbard.
That's it.

David R · 19th January 2021, 12:16 PM

The blade and scabbard are very nice, but the hilt is probably a walking stick handle.

mahratt · 19th January 2021, 06:20 PM

This is Central Asia. End of the 19th century. By this time, Central Asia was annexed to the Russian Empire. Many people who lived in the Russian Empire moved to Central Asia. Including master jewelers from the Caucasus. In Bukhara and other cities, these master jewelers from the Caucasus began to make silver sheaths in the Caucasian style for the traditional knives of Central Asia: kard, bichaq and pesh-kabz.

Judging by the shape of the scabbard, they were made for the bichaq.

Lee · 19th January 2021, 07:53 PM

Take a look at this old thread as the bolster and a blade possibly recycled from previous mounts bring this type to mind.

Gonzoadler · 19th January 2021, 08:25 PM

Thanks for your helpful comments. There are a lot of similar but not equal pieces from Central Asia, so I was'nt completely sure about that origin.
That the scabbard was made for a Bichaq could be more likely than for a Kard, but the examples from the old thread looking really plausible, too.

I think it is possible that the handle was made for a walking stick, don't know if such sticks were common in that region.

It would be great if anyone can show pieces which are partly similar.

Regards

ariel · 4th February 2021, 06:24 AM

Either my eyes betray me, or there is something strange with the blade.
It has a blunt ricasso, so it could not have been shortened from that end.
But the fuller is very short and does not seem to run into the point, so even that end is original. Either it was indeed a saber blade ( Western, not Oriental), with a very short fuller ( in which case colleagues from the European section might be of help), or a bayonet(???).
You are correct, the chasing motifs are Caucasian, and the niello seems to point that way, but the end of the scabbard is tilted up ( Turkish?).

If the handle is from a walking stick, that would hint at other " foreign" parts.

I cannot find any traces of anything Central Asian.

Rich · 4th February 2021, 12:00 PM

Interesting piece. Put a cross guard on the blade and it becomes an European hunting knife.
Rich

mahratt · 4th February 2021, 12:23 PM

A few more knives from Central Asia in a similar scabard^

18th January 2021, 08:28 PM	#1
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 255	More pictures: Attached Images

18th January 2021, 08:29 PM	#2
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 255	And some from the scabbard. That's it. Attached Images

4th February 2021, 12:23 PM	#9
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	A few more knives from Central Asia in a similar scabard^ Attached Images

19th January 2021, 12:16 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,114	The blade and scabbard are very nice, but the hilt is probably a walking stick handle.

19th January 2021, 06:20 PM	#4
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	This is Central Asia. End of the 19th century. By this time, Central Asia was annexed to the Russian Empire. Many people who lived in the Russian Empire moved to Central Asia. Including master jewelers from the Caucasus. In Bukhara and other cities, these master jewelers from the Caucasus began to make silver sheaths in the Caucasian style for the traditional knives of Central Asia: kard, bichaq and pesh-kabz. Judging by the shape of the scabbard, they were made for the bichaq.

19th January 2021, 07:53 PM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Take a look at this old thread as the bolster and a blade possibly recycled from previous mounts bring this type to mind.

19th January 2021, 08:25 PM	#6
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 255	Thanks for your helpful comments. There are a lot of similar but not equal pieces from Central Asia, so I was'nt completely sure about that origin. That the scabbard was made for a Bichaq could be more likely than for a Kard, but the examples from the old thread looking really plausible, too. I think it is possible that the handle was made for a walking stick, don't know if such sticks were common in that region. It would be great if anyone can show pieces which are partly similar. Regards

4th February 2021, 06:24 AM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Either my eyes betray me, or there is something strange with the blade. It has a blunt ricasso, so it could not have been shortened from that end. But the fuller is very short and does not seem to run into the point, so even that end is original. Either it was indeed a saber blade ( Western, not Oriental), with a very short fuller ( in which case colleagues from the European section might be of help), or a bayonet(???). You are correct, the chasing motifs are Caucasian, and the niello seems to point that way, but the end of the scabbard is tilted up ( Turkish?). If the handle is from a walking stick, that would hint at other " foreign" parts. I cannot find any traces of anything Central Asian.

4th February 2021, 12:00 PM	#8
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Interesting piece. Put a cross guard on the blade and it becomes an European hunting knife. Rich