Arab saif of Syrian style or Kilij saber for ID.

[Cerjak]

Is it still not clear for me if it is a Arab saif of Syrian style or a Kilij saber .
It is a silver mounted saber with a tear shaped silver dangle attached to the tip of the pommel cap by a loop
Overall length: 98 cm the blade 86 cm W 3.5 cm.
Is it a 19 Th century saber or later ?
Any comment on it will be welcome.
best

Cerjak

[Battara]

From what I can tell, it is indeed Syrian, especially in hilt style.

[Kubur]

Yes, Syrian
But what about the blade, do you have any marks?
Could be Persian... Doesnt look styrian or Eastern European as it was often the case...

[Cerjak]

Hi Kubur

Unfortunately there isn't any mark on the blade.

Best

Cerjak

[Battara]

Can you provide close ups of the blade where it is clean?

[Cerjak]

Can you provide close ups of the blade where it is clean?
close ups of the blade

[Battara]

Hard to tell what kind of wootz, if any, is in this blade. The type of wootz would indicate if Persian or Turkish, or if it is pattern welded.

[A.alnakkas]

Hard to tell if its wootz or not without a clean up and an etch. With Syrian hilted swords I am less inclined to say something is wootz with such condition, that is because the industry there can make blades in any shape. What can help us further if you take photos of the spine, it may show a hairline crack on the spine and the Syrian craftsmen often make swords with odd distal tapering. But this one looks genuinely old, the hilt too, maybe 19th century as its silver fitted. The iron fitted ones are often early to very late 20th century. Worth checking if its silver and not some white metal.

[Cerjak]

Hard to tell if its wootz or not without a clean up and an etch. With Syrian hilted swords I am less inclined to say something is wootz with such condition, that is because the industry there can make blades in any shape. What can help us further if you take photos of the spine, it may show a hairline crack on the spine and the Syrian craftsmen often make swords with odd distal tapering. But this one looks genuinely old, the hilt too, maybe 19th century as its silver fitted. The iron fitted ones are often early to very late 20th century. Worth checking if its silver and not some white metal.


Hi A.alnakkas
I have check the saber but I did not seen any hairline crack on the spine.
About the hilt there is no doubt it's silver .

Best

Cerjak

[Cerjak]

similar Saif from http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/shamshir/index.html

[A.alnakkas]

Hi A.alnakkas
I have check the saber but I did not seen any hairline crack on the spine.
About the hilt there is no doubt it's silver .

Best

Cerjak

Not looking for the hairline crack mainly. The distal taper on Syrian made blades (usually later) is usually without a distal taper so its a sign but not a definitive one.

[Cerjak]

Not looking for the hairline crack mainly. The distal taper on Syrian made blades (usually later) is usually without a distal taper so its a sign but not a definitive one.


Hello A.alnakkas,

The thickness lessens from the shoulder out towards the tip.
From the base around 6.2 mm decreasing to the tip where thickness is around 3 mm

BEST

Cerjak

[broadaxe]

Syrian handle, apparently persian blade, turkish-style guard (long, thin prongs).

[A.alnakkas]

Hello A.alnakkas,

The thickness lessens from the shoulder out towards the tip.
From the base around 6.2 mm decreasing to the tip where thickness is around 3 mm

BEST

Cerjak

Photos will make more sense of it. :-))