Kindjal for study

Nagawarrior · 24th May 2008, 12:08 AM

Well, here it goes. What's the verdict on my Kindjal? I haven't had the opportunity to handle many. I've read a bit, but that's all. I bought this from an expert in the field, you pay a premium, but hopefully a quality piece. I can't remember much about what he told me now, having a senior moment, but I do remember he said Kubachi work. It has been one of my favorite for quite a while.

Nagawarrior · 24th May 2008, 12:08 AM

ariel · 24th May 2008, 05:04 AM

Is the silverwork goldwashed?
Any markings on the upper back of the scabbard? On the blade?

Nagawarrior · 24th May 2008, 12:09 PM

Yes to goldwashed. Good eye Ariel. No to marks. There is a little niello arrow design on the back of the suspension attachment area. Maybe a special mark?

Gavin Nugent · 24th May 2008, 12:36 PM

Glad to see more examples coming out for comment, I am very interested in viewing comparative comments.

regards

Gav

ariel · 24th May 2008, 01:00 PM

Very good and old example.Goldwash is not something that is done ( and done well!) on recent creations. The repousse is of Kubachi type, with "tutta" being the predominant motif. It is very well executed, and the massive and deep work on the middle feature is very impressive. Many silver clad kindjals were never submitted to the official testing and stamping of silver purity( nobody wants to pay taxes). Either that or it was done before ~1880. The exact origin is difficult to pinpoint, because masters of different ethnicities worked together and blended their styles.
Make sure the wooden inserts in the handle are old: otherwise, think about replaced blade.
Overall, a keeper. Congratulations!

Gavin Nugent · 24th May 2008, 01:23 PM

Congrats Stephen, with all the talk recently about sloppy lines from so many and no markingss, I was beginning to think the worst for another Kindjal presented. Good work! Nice additional information too Ariel.

regards

Gav

Nagawarrior · 24th May 2008, 11:18 PM

ariel, I've looked at the wood expose under the handle and it looks old to me. The blade exposed just above the wood blocked by the handle has a dark rust patina, like you would find on the tang of an old Japanese sword. This is an area that could not be polished or cleaned over the years. Does this indicate an old, original blade? There are also some very interesting V-shaped nicks on the edged of the blade, perhaps battle scars? Westerners always assume there is some sort of clanging of blades during a battle. I watch too many sword fighting films probably.
stephen

Yannis · 25th May 2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nagawarrior

There are also some very interesting V-shaped nicks on the edged of the blade, perhaps battle scars?

More possible dance scars

Kindjal is not the weapon for swordplay but for fast knife style fighting. In the other hand Georgian dance has lot of kindjal action

24th May 2008, 12:08 AM	#1
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Kindjal for study Well, here it goes. What's the verdict on my Kindjal? I haven't had the opportunity to handle many. I've read a bit, but that's all. I bought this from an expert in the field, you pay a premium, but hopefully a quality piece. I can't remember much about what he told me now, having a senior moment, but I do remember he said Kubachi work. It has been one of my favorite for quite a while. Last edited by Nagawarrior; 24th May 2008 at 03:07 AM.

24th May 2008, 12:08 AM	#2
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	more pics

24th May 2008, 12:09 PM	#4
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	Yes to goldwashed. Good eye Ariel. No to marks. There is a little niello arrow design on the back of the suspension attachment area. Maybe a special mark? Last edited by Nagawarrior; 24th May 2008 at 12:32 PM.

24th May 2008, 12:36 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Glad to see Glad to see more examples coming out for comment, I am very interested in viewing comparative comments. regards Gav

24th May 2008, 01:23 PM	#7
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Congrats Stephen Congrats Stephen, with all the talk recently about sloppy lines from so many and no markingss, I was beginning to think the worst for another Kindjal presented. Good work! Nice additional information too Ariel. regards Gav

24th May 2008, 05:04 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Is the silverwork goldwashed? Any markings on the upper back of the scabbard? On the blade?

24th May 2008, 01:00 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Very good and old example.Goldwash is not something that is done ( and done well!) on recent creations. The repousse is of Kubachi type, with "tutta" being the predominant motif. It is very well executed, and the massive and deep work on the middle feature is very impressive. Many silver clad kindjals were never submitted to the official testing and stamping of silver purity( nobody wants to pay taxes). Either that or it was done before ~1880. The exact origin is difficult to pinpoint, because masters of different ethnicities worked together and blended their styles. Make sure the wooden inserts in the handle are old: otherwise, think about replaced blade. Overall, a keeper. Congratulations!

24th May 2008, 11:18 PM	#8
Nagawarrior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California USA Posts: 160	ariel, I've looked at the wood expose under the handle and it looks old to me. The blade exposed just above the wood blocked by the handle has a dark rust patina, like you would find on the tang of an old Japanese sword. This is an area that could not be polished or cleaned over the years. Does this indicate an old, original blade? There are also some very interesting V-shaped nicks on the edged of the blade, perhaps battle scars? Westerners always assume there is some sort of clanging of blades during a battle. I watch too many sword fighting films probably. stephen