Caucasian Shamshir with inscription for translation

Gonzoadler · 10th March 2021, 10:45 PM

Hello,

I have this Shamshir with a Caucasian damascus blade. On the blade is a gold koftgari inscription, I would say in Arabic language. At one side it is unfortunately partially lost, but I tried to complete it with Paint. Of course it is possible that I made some mistakes or it is still not complete.
A translation would be very nice.

Also your comments regarding the origin or the age are welcome.
The blade looks well used and the handle, which reminds me of Ottoman Kilij swords, was repaired not very professional.

Dimensions: total 88.5cm; blade 76cm

At first the side with inscription in good condition:

Gonzoadler · 10th March 2021, 10:47 PM

The side with completed inscription:

Gonzoadler · 10th March 2021, 10:49 PM

Further pictures of the other parts:

Gonzoadler · 10th March 2021, 10:50 PM

More pictures:

Gonzoadler · 10th March 2021, 10:51 PM

If somebody wishes I can make additional better pictures.

Some blade details:

Gonzoadler · 13th March 2021, 03:59 PM

Hmm, maybe my sword is less interesting than I thought

Or the pictures are too bad.
No comments at all?

Athanase · 13th March 2021, 05:59 PM

It's very beautiful sword but I am totally ignorant about the blades of the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Kubur · 13th March 2021, 07:10 PM

Ok I'll just copy & paste the last comment:

"It's very beautiful sword but I am totally ignorant about the blades of the Caucasus"

I'm sure someone like Ariel will tell you more.

Now about the sword, IMHO it's not a shamshir but a saif, probably from Syria or the Arabian peninsula during the Ottoman period.

The pistol grip and the guard are typical from the Ottoman swords.

Your "was repaired not very professional" is very polite. These crap repairs were very often done by Bedouins.

I have two of these swords always with different blades, one Persian and one European... I think the Bedouins took what they liked and what they could afford.

Gonzoadler · 13th March 2021, 07:27 PM

Yes, the handle has been more ruined than repaired

But the blade is good, so I bought it.
I think the blade is caucasian because mechanical damascus was a bit more common there and the floral Koftgari-decor looks not really typical ottoman to me. Daggers and swords from Georgia, Daghestan etc. have sometimes a similar decoration. But the handle looks ottoman, I agree.

Jim McDougall · 13th March 2021, 07:46 PM

While I would defer to any observations made by Ariel, who has outstanding knowledge on Caucasian arms, I have learned a good deal as far as working familiarity, especially from Kirill Rivkin's "Arms and Armor in the Caucusus".

I agree with Kubur in that the general status of this hilt and the notably poor application of decoration does resemble the kind of field work done by Bedouin in Arabian regions. They favored Ottoman styled hilts, and often used blades acquired from the Caucusus.

This blade I think may be Russian, and the 'damascus' blade may well be the Russian bulat. The fullering is similar to other Russian blades I have seen on Georgian swords. The script is I believe Georgian.

The blade is OUTSTANDING!!!

Gonzoadler · 26th March 2021, 11:17 PM

kwiatek, where are you?

Here are some more pictures:

10th March 2021, 10:45 PM	#1
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	Caucasian Shamshir with inscription for translation Hello, I have this Shamshir with a Caucasian damascus blade. On the blade is a gold koftgari inscription, I would say in Arabic language. At one side it is unfortunately partially lost, but I tried to complete it with Paint. Of course it is possible that I made some mistakes or it is still not complete. A translation would be very nice. Also your comments regarding the origin or the age are welcome. The blade looks well used and the handle, which reminds me of Ottoman Kilij swords, was repaired not very professional. Dimensions: total 88.5cm; blade 76cm At first the side with inscription in good condition: Attached Images

10th March 2021, 10:47 PM	#2
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	The side with completed inscription: Attached Images

10th March 2021, 10:49 PM	#3
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	Further pictures of the other parts: Attached Images

10th March 2021, 10:50 PM	#4
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	More pictures: Attached Images

10th March 2021, 10:51 PM	#5
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	If somebody wishes I can make additional better pictures. Some blade details: Attached Images

13th March 2021, 03:59 PM	#6
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	Hmm, maybe my sword is less interesting than I thought Or the pictures are too bad. No comments at all?

13th March 2021, 05:59 PM	#7
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	It's very beautiful sword but I am totally ignorant about the blades of the Caucasus and the Middle East.

13th March 2021, 07:10 PM	#8
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Ok I'll just copy & paste the last comment: "It's very beautiful sword but I am totally ignorant about the blades of the Caucasus" I'm sure someone like Ariel will tell you more. Now about the sword, IMHO it's not a shamshir but a saif, probably from Syria or the Arabian peninsula during the Ottoman period. The pistol grip and the guard are typical from the Ottoman swords. Your "was repaired not very professional" is very polite. These crap repairs were very often done by Bedouins. I have two of these swords always with different blades, one Persian and one European... I think the Bedouins took what they liked and what they could afford. Attached Images

13th March 2021, 07:27 PM	#9
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	Yes, the handle has been more ruined than repaired But the blade is good, so I bought it. I think the blade is caucasian because mechanical damascus was a bit more common there and the floral Koftgari-decor looks not really typical ottoman to me. Daggers and swords from Georgia, Daghestan etc. have sometimes a similar decoration. But the handle looks ottoman, I agree.

13th March 2021, 07:46 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	While I would defer to any observations made by Ariel, who has outstanding knowledge on Caucasian arms, I have learned a good deal as far as working familiarity, especially from Kirill Rivkin's "Arms and Armor in the Caucusus". I agree with Kubur in that the general status of this hilt and the notably poor application of decoration does resemble the kind of field work done by Bedouin in Arabian regions. They favored Ottoman styled hilts, and often used blades acquired from the Caucusus. This blade I think may be Russian, and the 'damascus' blade may well be the Russian bulat. The fullering is similar to other Russian blades I have seen on Georgian swords. The script is I believe Georgian. The blade is OUTSTANDING!!!

26th March 2021, 11:17 PM	#11
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	kwiatek, where are you? Here are some more pictures: Attached Images