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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
It is important to realize that many of these swords were actually used in 'duelling', although often a staged tradition, rather than ceremonial wear in courts or parade.
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Ugh, these guys also had a much darker use.
In theory, even in war, with an exception of the ones induced by vengeance, killing rather than wounding an opponent was considered an excessive brutality. That's why chechens prohibiting thrusts in their kindjal duels, and while northern caucasians maintained their shashka dules, southern used palashes.
But there was a tradition that is a little bit strange: while taking cloth from a dead opponent was strictly prohibited by the codes of honor, taking body parts of someone who is already dead was encouraged, especially among khevsurs.
Usually right hand or head was chopped off, it was then boiled in salty water, dehydrated and either incorporated into one's personal architecture as a building material/nice ornament, or if you were into it you could actually carry it with you.
So khevsurian palashes served an important role even when guns became a primeral weapon - they were used to chop off the body parts needed.
Sorry if I'm introducing some well known truths,
Sincerely yours,
K.Rivkin