Georgian Shashka

mariusgmioc · 15th December 2018, 03:44 PM

Hello,

I just got this Georgian Shashka and would like to know more about its blade. Is it European? Is it Daghestani? Is it Russian? Or is it maybe Georgian?

ariel · 15th December 2018, 07:58 PM

This is a late 19-early 20 century blade. The blade is Daghestani, most likely Amuzgi village. Etched eagle is often accompanied by a stamp of Mudunov’s workshop. The handle with false filigree is reminiscent of Tiflis manufacture, although Mudunov’s workshop was located in Vladikavkaz The etched figure of a man with saber may be related to shamkhals of Tarki, who were allowed to wear a feather in their headdress ( as per late Astvatsaturyan). Scabbard leather is replaced, and you may wish to check its wooden inserts

Did you buy it straight from Georgia?

There is an abundance of first-rate professionals there who do excellent restauration or even total creation of Caucasian weapons. I am not good enough to pinpoint any more suspicious things from photographs.

Oliver or Kirill Rivkin are orders of magnitude better and you may wish to ask them.

mariusgmioc · 15th December 2018, 10:43 PM

Thank you Ariel very much!

I hope Oliver sees my posting and replies. If not, I will contact him directly.

Do you know how can I contact Kiril Rivkin? Is he a member of this or any other forum?

Oliver Pinchot · 16th December 2018, 05:52 PM

This is a good example of the Georgian work Ariel is referring to.
The grip looks original. The blade is old but may have been embellished recently. The scabbard is modern work: the mounts are set with pieces of women's belts, and the leather is new.

mariusgmioc · 16th December 2018, 07:03 PM

Thank you Oliver very much!
I like this blade a lot and I am quite relieved to hear it is not European.

OsobistGB · 16th December 2018, 10:19 PM

What makes you think the blade is Georgian

...аnd the chance to be from Dagestan is zero.
Unfortunately, this is a very recent compilation.The auctions are full of copies from Georgia and skillful craftsmen from St. Petersburg.

ariel · 16th December 2018, 11:27 PM

Regretfully, Osobist is correct in general, and I tried to hint at the same trend: former Soviet republics are chock full of false “Caucasian “ weapons. After all, what else are they capable of manufacturing for export except for vodka, fur coats and caviar?

Nevertheless, in this particular case the situation is not as horrible: I am almost sure that the handle is original, and the blade also has a very high chance of being contemporaneous Daghestani.

I was a bit uneasy about the mounts but their origin as per Oliver surprised me. I would never have thought about this source! That’s the difference between an amateur ( me) and a seasoned professional ( Oliver).

Scabbard aside, IMHO it is a combination of Daghestani blade and Tiflis handle.
Whether it was assembled thus 130 years or 130 days ago is a matter of debate. Somehow, I doubt that anybody will go as far as disassembling the shashka in search of epoxy glue.

15th December 2018, 03:44 PM	#1
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Georgian Shashka Hello, I just got this Georgian Shashka and would like to know more about its blade. Is it European? Is it Daghestani? Is it Russian? Or is it maybe Georgian? Attached Images

15th December 2018, 07:58 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	This is a late 19-early 20 century blade. The blade is Daghestani, most likely Amuzgi village. Etched eagle is often accompanied by a stamp of Mudunov’s workshop. The handle with false filigree is reminiscent of Tiflis manufacture, although Mudunov’s workshop was located in Vladikavkaz The etched figure of a man with saber may be related to shamkhals of Tarki, who were allowed to wear a feather in their headdress ( as per late Astvatsaturyan). Scabbard leather is replaced, and you may wish to check its wooden inserts Did you buy it straight from Georgia? There is an abundance of first-rate professionals there who do excellent restauration or even total creation of Caucasian weapons. I am not good enough to pinpoint any more suspicious things from photographs. Oliver or Kirill Rivkin are orders of magnitude better and you may wish to ask them.

15th December 2018, 10:43 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Thank you Ariel very much! I hope Oliver sees my posting and replies. If not, I will contact him directly. Do you know how can I contact Kiril Rivkin? Is he a member of this or any other forum?

16th December 2018, 05:52 PM	#4
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	This is a good example of the Georgian work Ariel is referring to. The grip looks original. The blade is old but may have been embellished recently. The scabbard is modern work: the mounts are set with pieces of women's belts, and the leather is new.

16th December 2018, 07:03 PM	#5
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Thank you Oliver very much! I like this blade a lot and I am quite relieved to hear it is not European.

16th December 2018, 10:19 PM	#6
OsobistGB Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 94	What makes you think the blade is Georgian ...аnd the chance to be from Dagestan is zero. Unfortunately, this is a very recent compilation.The auctions are full of copies from Georgia and skillful craftsmen from St. Petersburg.

16th December 2018, 11:27 PM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Regretfully, Osobist is correct in general, and I tried to hint at the same trend: former Soviet republics are chock full of false “Caucasian “ weapons. After all, what else are they capable of manufacturing for export except for vodka, fur coats and caviar? Nevertheless, in this particular case the situation is not as horrible: I am almost sure that the handle is original, and the blade also has a very high chance of being contemporaneous Daghestani. I was a bit uneasy about the mounts but their origin as per Oliver surprised me. I would never have thought about this source! That’s the difference between an amateur ( me) and a seasoned professional ( Oliver). Scabbard aside, IMHO it is a combination of Daghestani blade and Tiflis handle. Whether it was assembled thus 130 years or 130 days ago is a matter of debate. Somehow, I doubt that anybody will go as far as disassembling the shashka in search of epoxy glue.