Karabela european?

Jim McDougall · 10th January 2025, 05:36 PM

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27238

I totally agree, and linked this thread from 2021 where the comprehensive material reflects the foundation of the assessment.
It seems there has long been a certain cottage industry for creating traditional Polish swords for collectors and interested persons, as there is of course a notable shortage of genuine examples.
I have seen instances of 'karabelas' (with the familiar type hilts) mounted in newly made hilts, and on occasion using old guards and blades.

As noted this blade is a characteristic Persian shamshir blade, probably 18thc.
The karabela was of course much admired by the Poles, and became copied to the point often it is regarded by some literature as the 'national Polish sword'.
Old karabela it seems typically used saber blades rather than the thinner more parabolic shamshir blades.

As always, there must have been exceptions to individual cases.

10th January 2025, 05:36 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27238 I totally agree, and linked this thread from 2021 where the comprehensive material reflects the foundation of the assessment. It seems there has long been a certain cottage industry for creating traditional Polish swords for collectors and interested persons, as there is of course a notable shortage of genuine examples. I have seen instances of 'karabelas' (with the familiar type hilts) mounted in newly made hilts, and on occasion using old guards and blades. As noted this blade is a characteristic Persian shamshir blade, probably 18thc. The karabela was of course much admired by the Poles, and became copied to the point often it is regarded by some literature as the 'national Polish sword'. Old karabela it seems typically used saber blades rather than the thinner more parabolic shamshir blades. As always, there must have been exceptions to individual cases.