Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

ariel · 8th May 2006, 09:24 PM

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!
One still can find a terminal sleeper on E-bay and get it for a song.
This one just arrived and got a very gentle cleaning. The sword and the scabbard were sold separately, because they "did not fit". Reason #1: the upper fitting on the scabbard was put upside down and, #2: the wood is so dry that it almost crumbles and the leather is also shriveled.
The blade is hand made, provincial manufacture, not damascus and has 2 noticeable nicks on the edge.
There is an almost intact Koftgari inscription on one side (hope it does not say "Made in Taiwan") and I need help translating it. They are photographed in overlapping segments.
My guess it is an Ottoman, but not Turkish, one: the quality of the blade and the koftgari is far too inferior to real Ottoman beauties. Syrian? Egyptian? Iraqi? Perhaps, East Anatolian/Kurdish?
Please help.

8th May 2006, 09:24 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	New Kilij: need opinions and translation Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus! One still can find a terminal sleeper on E-bay and get it for a song. This one just arrived and got a very gentle cleaning. The sword and the scabbard were sold separately, because they "did not fit". Reason #1: the upper fitting on the scabbard was put upside down and, #2: the wood is so dry that it almost crumbles and the leather is also shriveled. The blade is hand made, provincial manufacture, not damascus and has 2 noticeable nicks on the edge. There is an almost intact Koftgari inscription on one side (hope it does not say "Made in Taiwan") and I need help translating it. They are photographed in overlapping segments. My guess it is an Ottoman, but not Turkish, one: the quality of the blade and the koftgari is far too inferior to real Ottoman beauties. Syrian? Egyptian? Iraqi? Perhaps, East Anatolian/Kurdish? Please help. Attached Images