Balkan(?) kindjal

[TVV]

Originally Posted by ariel

Teodor,
I look at your own post
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...balkan+kindjal
and there is quite a lot of "kindjals" with similar handles ( thinner, meatier, lighter, darker, but all of the same general pattern) that you ID-ed as Bulgarian.
Obviously, this one cannot be of Turkish or Syrian origin ( script).
Together, the handle and the inscription point quite strongly ( I think) towards the Balkans, Bulgaria being my first address.

Honestly I cannot find much similarity. The Bulgarian style, which developed long after the last Russian soldier left Bulgaria in the mid 1880s, is characterized by brass handles with a horn insert, completely encased by the brass, or scales of horn and only a brass guard, but none of these handles come near to the monstrosity of the hilt on this dagger, which allegedly sold for $ 1,500. The pommel for one thing is completely different - the traditional Bulgarian one aims at representing a stylized serpent head. The scabbard, as noted by both of us, also has little in common with what one expects to find on such daggers. Therefore, I remain unconvinced
That being said, it could have been made in the Balkans or even Bulgaria, but to me it falls within the category of "custom made", as it does not match any traditional style.