Two Kilij for comments

[TVV]

I am reading the inscription as "За Отличие въ Турецкой Войне", meaning "For Distinguishment in the Turkish War". To me, it is suspicious.

[werecow]

Originally Posted by TVV

I am reading the inscription as "За Отличие въ Турецкой Войне", meaning "For Distinguishment in the Turkish War". To me, it is suspicious.

Ah, cool! But yeah, that does sound like the kind of thing you'd put on a forgery or tourist piece. Maybe some cheeky Georgian thought he did OK in that war and etched his own (or a war trophy) blade? P

Originally Posted by ariel

i looked at the better pics and suddenly it dawned on me: ” за отличие в турецкой войне”.
I was so proud of myself and scrolled down the page to publish my momentous discovery when I saw Teodor’s post….

Well, I got silver:-)))


Or, as the Russians used to report the results of a duel between the American and the Russian runners: “Our runner came second and the American one came barely before the last”.

Hah, well I consider it a collective effort.

Originally Posted by ariel

Say whatever you want, the handle and the crossguard are typical Georgian.

True. Although the kilij blade is not very typical if I'm not mistaken? Perhaps it's a remounted blade.

Originally Posted by ASPaulding

Yours looks like a Shamshir grip and gaurd while the blade is a Kilij. Is it possible your blade was modified to resemble a Kilij?

I doubt that. It's got the typical T-section and it isn't an overly clunky one. It seems it was made this way, at least.

[TVV]

I suspect the inspiration for the etching came from signs, given to members of the Bulgarian Militia after the war. Not sure, but I suspect there was similar Russian insignia, on which the Bulgarian was based. The cross over a crescent is also a symbol of the victory in the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War. The blade may be an authentic old blade, which has been "enhanced" in this manner and put into new, inaccurate dress.

[werecow]

Hah, that definitely looks familiar! Funny... I assumed that cross over crescent to be a combination of a cross and an anchor, as in naval markings (especially since the blade is also blued).

[Richard G]

i would venture that the smaller of the two originally posted by ASPaulding may well be Egyptian.
Regards
Richard

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Richard G

i would venture that the smaller of the two originally posted by ASPaulding may well be Egyptian.
Regards
Richard

Interesting! What distinguishes the Egyptian ones from the rest?

[Richard G]

I'm sorry, I did write a reply, but it did not want to submit, and now I've lost it.
Will try again later.
Regards
Richard

[werecow]

Very excited today since I managed to get a hold of a pala that is very similar to the T-section one in the OP. I've been wanting one of these for many years.

I also snagged a rather rusty (more so than the picture suggests) and slightly bent Persian quaddara (quadara?) that will be a fun cleanup project at some point.