Quadarra or Dashna

Kubur · 8th July 2021, 04:31 PM

If you consider the hilt as the last stage / last owner; and if the hilt is Persian as I think, then it is a qadarra.

Despite the very nice and complicated story: sword blade, reused and decorated in Caucasus...Then rehilted in Persia.

Interested Party · 9th July 2021, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

If you consider the hilt as the last stage / last owner; and if the hilt is Persian as I think, then it is a qadarra.

Despite the very nice and complicated story: sword blade, reused and decorated in Caucasus...Then rehilted in Persia.

I think the koftgari is maybe the final addition to this piece. That is why I called it "Tiflis style". The gold work is very thin. Plus it seems an odd place to decorate a sword, but not unusual for a dagger. I think this dagger was the forte of the original (and judging from the spine, fairly straight) saber. It could have been broke by concussive force taken on the edge of the blade, pretty much in the sweet spot for striking or just below. All this is conjecture. Or Kubur were you saying that you believe that this piece was remade in the Caucasus and then re-hilted again in the Persian sphere of influence for a third incarnation?

Thanks Marius, Ariel, and Kubur for opinions on what is the proper name for this dagger are very much appreciated.

Ariel 1) is "sabarkali" a Persian, Georgian, or Transcaucasian word? 2) "Kakheti Dashna" what does kakheti mean?

dat_man · 9th July 2021, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interested Party

what does kakheti mean?

It is a region in georgia with and the main georgian group there is kakhetians

ausjulius · 11th July 2021, 11:23 PM

the blade is original. not a sabre blade..
it is a typical Persian qama. as to rude decoration.. all things caucacus were the rage in iran for quite some time and iran has a large population of caucascan peoples that inhabit most of the country... georgians.. circassians. ect ect. in some regions they still form notable populations today.

the scarf welding in the tang indicates some age as its unlikely post ww2 this would be bothered with due to the sharp decreace in the cost of steel. pre WW2 persians already were importing penknife blades and blanks from sheffield and english made steel strips and bars were sold in every village so scarf welding was probably on the way out by then already.

cracks on the edge can be from a bad quench.. can be from poor tempering and somebody hitting the blades flat with something hard ... could have been present at the time of making due to poor forging.. to cold normally... or ffom inclusionsin native made steel.. . and became visable after the blade was flexed.

on any account its a very typical qama from iran than can be even purchased.. exactly the same.. today for smallish amount from any knife makers shop or knife seller.. there is hundreds of small workshops making these and also pocketknives.

the handles are normally buffalo horn but also now orange.. yellow, brown and cream coloured synthetic materials.. delrin and phenolic are also popular..

these have been popular pilgrimage souvenirs in iran atleast for 250 years and people buy them as gifts... unlike the weapons in the caucasus that only began to be tourist baubles after ww2 weapon laws were passed in the ussr. ive seen quite afew poorly decorated 19th century ones from iran with functional blades.. in iran today even the worst qama will have nice fullering though.
zanjan is a major e centre of production of these. see example below
https://zanjanhome.ir/%D8%AA%D9%88%D...C%D8%A7%D9%86/

ausjulius · 11th July 2021, 11:32 PM

the synthetic handles i mentioned

11th July 2021, 11:32 PM	#5
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 438	the synthetic handles i mentioned Attached Images

8th July 2021, 04:31 PM	#1
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	If you consider the hilt as the last stage / last owner; and if the hilt is Persian as I think, then it is a qadarra. Despite the very nice and complicated story: sword blade, reused and decorated in Caucasus...Then rehilted in Persia.

11th July 2021, 11:23 PM	#4
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 438	the blade is original. not a sabre blade.. it is a typical Persian qama. as to rude decoration.. all things caucacus were the rage in iran for quite some time and iran has a large population of caucascan peoples that inhabit most of the country... georgians.. circassians. ect ect. in some regions they still form notable populations today. the scarf welding in the tang indicates some age as its unlikely post ww2 this would be bothered with due to the sharp decreace in the cost of steel. pre WW2 persians already were importing penknife blades and blanks from sheffield and english made steel strips and bars were sold in every village so scarf welding was probably on the way out by then already. cracks on the edge can be from a bad quench.. can be from poor tempering and somebody hitting the blades flat with something hard ... could have been present at the time of making due to poor forging.. to cold normally... or ffom inclusionsin native made steel.. . and became visable after the blade was flexed. on any account its a very typical qama from iran than can be even purchased.. exactly the same.. today for smallish amount from any knife makers shop or knife seller.. there is hundreds of small workshops making these and also pocketknives. the handles are normally buffalo horn but also now orange.. yellow, brown and cream coloured synthetic materials.. delrin and phenolic are also popular.. these have been popular pilgrimage souvenirs in iran atleast for 250 years and people buy them as gifts... unlike the weapons in the caucasus that only began to be tourist baubles after ww2 weapon laws were passed in the ussr. ive seen quite afew poorly decorated 19th century ones from iran with functional blades.. in iran today even the worst qama will have nice fullering though. zanjan is a major e centre of production of these. see example below https://zanjanhome.ir/%D8%AA%D9%88%D...C%D8%A7%D9%86/