Mark On 1902 Afghan Sabre Quillon

[Rick]

Here are two shots of yet another mark found on this sabre .
This one has what appears to be a sun in the top left corner .

Linky to the sword : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=674&highlight=Mazar+Sharif

Any ideas ?
Ariel ?
Another Mazar I Sharif stamp ?

[ariel]

I may be imagining things, but perhaps, just perhaps, one can see 2 minarets.
If so, Mazar-i-Sharif.

[S.Al-Anizi]

I believe that this is a Mazar-Sharif mark. Ive got one on my 1890 afghan saber, etched on the blade.

[spiral]

Nice blade Rick,

I like this armourys work, perhaps a bit of diversification is called for amongst my collection!

Spiral

[Rick]

Thanks Ariel and Saqr !

Spiral , you should hear how this blade rings when tapped with a hard object .
I believe this armoury was well known for its quality steel .
Possibly Ariel can comment on this .

[spiral]

:D Great stuff! There kukri rings like a bell as well!


Spiral

[S.Al-Anizi]

Thanks Ariel and Saqr !

Spiral , you should hear how this blade rings when tapped with a hard object .
I believe this armoury was well known for its quality steel .
Possibly Ariel can comment on this .

Actually Rick, in the case of my saber, no ringing at all! When I tap it slightly on the wall, I hear no sound at all, almost like a plastic toy sword :( Guess my piece has a very low quality blade. Unlike all my other swords, whom ring like bells.

[Rick]

Hi Saqr , could you post a picture or two of your sabre ?
Is it the same style as my example ?

[S.Al-Anizi]

Here are three:

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8665/dsci00041yl.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsci00041yl.jpg)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2263/dsci00141uo.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsci00141uo.jpg)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6180/dsci00188gb.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsci00188gb.jpg)

This is more of a euro styled saber.

[Rick]

Very nice !
Another style of sword to add to this armory's inventory .
Very handsome etchings ; can you read any of them ?

[spiral]

Excelent stuff ! this is fascinating!

Spiral

[S.Al-Anizi]

Very nice !
Another style of sword to add to this armory's inventory .
Very handsome etchings ; can you read any of them ?

Yah sure, I can read a date of 1308 on the ricasso, and the word "Al-Mutawakkil Ala Allah, Muhammad Tahir Shah" on the blade.

[Rick]

See any connections on this page of Afghan history ?
http://4dw.net/royalark/Afghanistan/barak15.htm

This is fun stuff Spiral ! :D

[ariel]

Here are 2 of my Afghani/Uzbeki shashkas.
The smaller one has a uniform high-pitched glassy ring, not very impressive. But the large one... It sounds like a Russian church during Easter! Loud, resonant, gorgeous sound!
The small one has 3 bronze plugs: 2 at ricasso and one at the end of the fuller. Timurid influence? The large one is covered with etched inscriptions, but nothing like those abominable (sorry!) Qajar Revival swords or ceremonial kaskaras: thick, heavy, solid, battle-ready.
Both have Mazar-i-Sharif markings. Their clarity is very good and one can learn to recognize them at first glance.

[S.Al-Anizi]

battle-ready.


Thats not a good sign ;) :D