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Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi
Salaams mariusgmioc ..Easily mixed up... and it seems related perhaps... I note from Atkinson -swords
Quote."The Qama (“Khama”, “Kama”) short sword, the national weapon of Georgia. The blade is 11 1/4" in length, with 3 fullers. It is double edged and very sharp. The overall length is 17 1/2". Unlike the plainer version, called the Kindjal in Russian, the Qama is decorated, often with hilts and scabbards covered with embossed silver. This Qama(see website and picture below from that) is one such, with a beautiful brushed silver scabbard. The ornamentation includes Georgian traditional decorations done in silver wire designs and niello (a black metallic alloy of sulphur, copper, silver, and usually lead, used as an inlay on engraved metal). The fine filigree and ornate decorations remain in exceptional condition. The well preserved nature of this Qama and its decoration indicate it may have been used in the ceremonies, celebrations and other traditions of the proud people of the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia.
The Qama is the proud possession of a Georgian warrior, symbolizing heroism and dignity. It is thus an insult to Georgians that their hereditary enemies, the Cossacks, were “allowed” to carry the Georgian national sword (in Russian, called a Kindjal). Their grievance remains open to this day.
The Qama and Kindjal probably both evolved from the Roman short sword (gladius) and possibly the Persian quaddara which it resembles".Unquote.
See website http://atkinson-swords.com/collectio...a-georgia.html
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi. |
Hello Ibrahiim and thank you for the citation!
Unfortunately, the author is wrong. The Qama and the Kindjal are nothing but two different names for precisely the very same weapon!
Qama is the name in Georgia/Iran/Turkey, while Kindjal is the name in Russia/Armenia/Daghestan.
As with regards to its decoration, the author is again plainly wrong as arguably Kubachi (Daghestan) Kindjals are the most lavishly decorated weapons of this type.
If you show the photo of the sword above to a knowledgeable Russian, he will immediately identify it as a Kindjal. Show it to a Persian and it will clearly be a Qama.
PS: I guess it is pretty much the same like with the Omani Khanjar and with the Yemeni Jambyia.