Kindjal

[Dominique]

Hi,
Can anyone help me locate the region of origin of this kindjal, approximately its age and translate the inscription on the blade?
Thanks
http://old.blades.free.fr/pics/picoriental/caucasian/cau03s.jpghttp://old.blades.free.fr/pics/picoriental/caucasian/cau03as.jpg http://old.blades.free.fr/pics/picoriental/caucasian/cau03bs.jpg

[ariel]

My guess it is Turkish. Is the blade pattern-welded?

[Kubur]

I confirm pure Turkish for the hilt and scabbard, the blade I don't know...
The date in Gregorian calendar is 1804.
Some members will translate the Arabic text, I hope.
Congrats its a cool stuff
Kubur

[Dominique]

Thanks for your feedback.
The blade is not pattern-welded and not of great workmanship. I am actually surprised it dates from 1804, I was under the impression it was more recent.
Dominique

[estcrh]

I am actually surprised it dates from 1804, I was under the impression it was more recent.
DominiqueJust because it has a date inscribed does not necessarily mean that the date is accurate, a date could be added at any time.

[mariusgmioc]

Just because it has a date inscribed does not necessarily mean that the date is accurate, a date could be added at any time.

I also have some suspicions regarding the age of the blade. While I do not read Arabic, It appears to me that half of the engravings, towards the tip, are pure decoration not writing, while the writing is in a different style. So I suspect it was added later.

Also the scabbard looks suspicious and I am inclined to say that it is just a tourist souvenir of very recent production. But the photos might be misleading and I might be wrong.

Can you identify the white metal of the scabbard?

Can you post a more detailed photo of the tip of the scabbard?

[Dominique]

Here is a pic of the tip.
I am not sure about the scabbard metal, looks like low grade silver over wood.
http://old.blades.free.fr/pics/picoriental/caucasian/tip.jpg

[mariusgmioc]

Thank you for the photo!

To me it looks much more like aluminum. Silver, either low or high grade, tends to tarnish and get a patina that doesn't look like this. But it is hard to say for sure from the photos.

Also, it appears that the blade is very flat like it has been cut from sheet steel. But you should be able to tell better as you have the blade at hand.

Definitely tourist stuff, rather crudely made, and fairly recent!

Just my opinion of course.

PS: If you are seeking a definitive answer you can get (from Amazon for example) a silver testing kit and test the metal yourself.

[Kubur]

I do not think, its not a tourist stuff for me.
If dont want it, I will take it!!!
:)

[Dominique]

Looks like a lot of work for a tourist piece. The sheath was in fact tarnished when I acquired it, the photo you see is after cleaning with ascorbic acid, which is fairly agressive.
Mariusgmioc, I will buy a silver test kit. Thank you for your suggestion.
Thank you Kubur, but I will keep it.
Dominique