Kindjal, etching / origin assistance

[Klop]

Thanks Ren Ren,

I intend to recreate a handle with black buffalo horn and plain iron studs. It doesn't feel like a fancy piece that would have had marine ivory and precious metals. Besides that, it's way too difficult to source a walrus these days :-)

Most logical reason for the reshaping I think is that the tip was bent by (ab)use and at bending back it broke. Earlier in it's lifetime.

I know Japanese swords were shortened at the tang but I don't see why anyone would shorten a kindjal point this way without a very good reason.

kind regards,
Eric

[Copycat]

Hello Erik,

Those letters in circles could be the Zlatoust proof markings P and S. See below link.

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/imper...atoust+kindjal

There are good examples of Zlatoust kindjals everywhere. Good luck with your hilt reconstruction.

Kind regards,

[Ren Ren]

Black buffalo horn is an excellent material for making this type of dagger handle. One of the conditions for ordering blades in Zlatoust was a price affordable to all Cossacks without exception (Cossacks paid for weapons and military equipment at their own expense). Most of these blades received a modest finish - buffalo horn or apricot wood was used for the handles. Wealthy Cossacks, who could order ivory or walrus tusk, purchased daggers from famous craftsmen in the Caucasus - in Vladikavkaz or Tiflis.

Your dagger could have been damaged for a myriad of reasons, I don't even want to guess some of them. I will only note that in the Soviet Union from about 1955 until 1991 it was strictly forbidden for private individuals to own such items under the threat of 3 years in prison.

Sincerely,
Serge

[Klop]

Dear gents, thanks (again) for your info and support, greatly appreciated!
It's gonna take some time but once finished I'll post the pictures with restored grip.

Kind regards,
Eric

[Ren Ren]

Good luck Eric!
I would be happy to see the results of the reconstruction.
​
Sincerely,
Serge

[Klop]

Well, as promised there it is. From the raw waterbuffalo horn to end product. The shaping done with saw and mainly a finetoothed rasp. Based on several examples and having some scrap alpaca (Berlin silver) sheet I changed my mind from Iron studs to this setup. After making the domes I soldered the heads of m4 bolts into them with generous amounts of lead to create the rivets. No glue or resin in the process, just some hammering. Chose the placing so that the stamps are visble, I must say I'm very pleased with the result. Maybe in the distant future a scabbard....

[Klop]

zugabe: it would of course be possible to remove every last toolmark and polish to a mirrorgloss but In my mind that wouldn't suit the blade, age and original production level.

[francantolin]

Really good job !

Congratulations !
This kindjal looks really great like that !!!