Shashka from Azerbaijan

[ariel]

I fully agree.
The Tula example is still “Very nice”, but would never pass as a genuinely old and original work. The absense pf gold decoration on the blade is puzzling: Tula masters were either not professionally prepared, lazy or just intentionally neglectful.

The truly impressive thing about this shashka is the openness of its creators
not attempting to full anybody. They are level above modern Indian masters in terms of integrity, but noticeably below historically and professionally.