Kindjal???
 

Dear All,

I would like to know what do you think about this kindjal?
It's not mine, but I think this kindjal is a little bit more original than the others...
All metal with stones, Arabic inscriptions on the scabbard and a good blade...
I guess experts prefer the kindjal with horn grips, the classical ones?
Just need opinions...thanks

Regards,
Kubur

The fittings look recent and poorly made to me :shrug:. I think I may have seen this item on eBay. Personally, I would not want it.

Teodor

MMMM i found another one the same style and with again an old blade.
I dont think that the fittings are more recent!

Kubur, what makes you think that the fittings are not more recent? Are you comparing them (and item as a whole) with well-known and documented examples, noticing workmanship and execution techniques, quality details,etc., or making an assumption based on another similarly-looking dagger?

I know nearly nothink about kinjals but my. in this case laic observation (after a very quic look): As far as the first kinjal is concerned: probably old blade was combined with copy, or better said substitute of old fittings. There are nicks in the blade just below the handle. This could be supportive voucher....

Thank you Martin, very useful comment!
And it looks the same on the second kindjal, with traces of smelting.
It is interesting to trace a 'school' of fakes...

The mounts are Ottoman provincial work, c. 1920. The most obvious indicator is the tugra on the locket. That this and the other example pictured are fitted with older blades is not in question; huge numbers of Circassian and other Caucasian groups emigrated to the Ottoman Empire en masse in and after 1865, so these blades were readily available.

Rather, the question is whether they were intended for tourist consumption. I would argue that they are, based upon the quality of workmanship, or lack thereof. Daggers of this form were still very much in use in the 1920s, and there are sufficient examples on the market, mounted in iron, brass, or silver, which show a broad range of decorative techniques typical of Ottoman smiths. These, however, are not among them.

Hi Oliver,
One can see tugra on the cars running in Turkey nowadays, which does not mean they are from twenties. Also based on the stones and their polish I would say it is more or less modern product combined with original blade - for tourist/"collectors" market.
Regards,
Martin

The blade of the first one is secured in the handle by some kind of glue. Definitely not a Caucasian technique, unless they invented epoxy in the 19th century :-)

Jokes aside, I think it is a contemporary work, older blade, newer rest of it. The stones are atrocious, IMHO: totally out of context, totally reminiscent of the current Syrian or S. Aravian souvenir manufacture.