Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Inscriptions in cartouches Persian shamshir.

ariel · 8th May 2022, 01:05 PM

GePi,
You brought two very interesting examples. Your shamshir seems to have an incredibly rare double-edged blade. Also, its scabbard has wire stitching, traditionally regarded as a hallmark of Ottoman manufacture, but the handle has a typical Indian gilded cloth wrapping and ( from what I can imagine) made of carved ivory, also suggesting Indian manufacrure.

I cannot see the pommel of your “yataghan”, but the blade has almost flissa profile. However, Berber flissas did not use wootz blades.

In short, IMHO, both swords exhibit fascinated mixes of different traditions.
I do not know how to pinpoint their origins, but both are unquestionably real and original and deserve active discussion.
More photos may help.
Great examples!

8th May 2022, 01:05 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	GePi, You brought two very interesting examples. Your shamshir seems to have an incredibly rare double-edged blade. Also, its scabbard has wire stitching, traditionally regarded as a hallmark of Ottoman manufacture, but the handle has a typical Indian gilded cloth wrapping and ( from what I can imagine) made of carved ivory, also suggesting Indian manufacrure. I cannot see the pommel of your “yataghan”, but the blade has almost flissa profile. However, Berber flissas did not use wootz blades. In short, IMHO, both swords exhibit fascinated mixes of different traditions. I do not know how to pinpoint their origins, but both are unquestionably real and original and deserve active discussion. More photos may help. Great examples!