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View Full Version : Mysterious shord sword - kama

buendia
18th February 2010, 03:45 AM
This kama (qama ?) is supposedly Persian/Iranian, but I don`t know how old is it and what`s on the maker`s mark. There are identical inscription on both sides. The lengh is 48cm (19 inches). What is the proper position to look at this mark - hilt directed downward? I would be very grateful for any comments.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/georgix/IMG_0908.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/georgix/IMG_0896.jpg
ward
19th February 2010, 02:51 AM
Nothing Persian about it, south Caucasus. If you post a closeup of the cartouche it would be easier. But its probably Georgian or Aramenian
buendia
20th February 2010, 12:04 AM
I hope you meant the sheath by cartotuche...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/georgix/BLADE/IMG_1000.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/georgix/BLADE/IMG_1000x.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/georgix/BLADE/IMG_1001.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/georgix/BLADE/IMG_1001x.jpg
I have one georgian kindjal of similar lenght and it`s very different from this one. What kind of script is on the mark?
Norman McCormick
20th February 2010, 01:52 PM
Hi Buendia,
Cartouche.
Regards,
Norman.
ward
20th February 2010, 07:14 PM
Pretty sure its Georgian, native speak can confirm it
buendia
21st February 2010, 01:14 AM
Thank you very much for your information. I was really convinced of its Persian origin.
I have checked both georgian and armenian alphabets -
looking at the cartouche placed in this position: http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/georgix/BLADE/IMG_0989cart.jpg the cartouche would yield the armenian letters YKB or possibly YLB. The letter in the middle was not 100% identical with contemporary letters.

In georgian alphabet the first letter would be identified as V, but I was not able to identify the rest 2 letters.

What could these letters mean?
Initials of the maker?
buendia
25th February 2010, 12:45 PM
Since it comes from Caucasus shouldn`t it be called kindjal instead of kama?
ariel
26th February 2010, 02:38 AM
Well, not exactly :-)
In Georgia and most of Daghestan it is Khanjali ( with minor variations).
In Chechnya/Ingushetiya it is Shalta
In Chircassia and Ossetia it is Kama
There are smaller nationalities as well, and there it varies between Shalta and Kama.

I do not know what it is called in Armenian
ward
26th February 2010, 03:08 AM
I do not know what it is called in Armenian[/QUOTE]

I heard "khanjul" but there are different dialects