Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

ham · 10th March 2006, 10:27 PM

If Rivkin means acid-etched, he's right. There may be a little hand chiselling around the borders, hard to tell from the pics. But it is predominantly etched.
This sword started life a simple fighting weapon in Afghanistan or N. India c. 1850, given the form of the hilt. It was embellished later, perhaps around the turn of the century, using the etching technique. This is evident from the differing profiles of the upper and lower edges of the guard. Note that on the edge nearest the blade, the langet has been winnowed to the thickness of a toothpick. The upper side retains its original form. Compare the outline of the etched panel, top and bottom-- note that it differs, meaning the etching was done after the guard was reshaped.

A handsome example, don't see shamshirs around much anymore.

Ham

10th March 2006, 10:27 PM	#5
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	If Rivkin means acid-etched, he's right. There may be a little hand chiselling around the borders, hard to tell from the pics. But it is predominantly etched. This sword started life a simple fighting weapon in Afghanistan or N. India c. 1850, given the form of the hilt. It was embellished later, perhaps around the turn of the century, using the etching technique. This is evident from the differing profiles of the upper and lower edges of the guard. Note that on the edge nearest the blade, the langet has been winnowed to the thickness of a toothpick. The upper side retains its original form. Compare the outline of the etched panel, top and bottom-- note that it differs, meaning the etching was done after the guard was reshaped. A handsome example, don't see shamshirs around much anymore. Ham Last edited by ham; 10th March 2006 at 10:43 PM.