Are Asadollah cartouches/signatures found on Ottoman blades? Or only Persian blades?

Jim McDougall · 27th June 2025, 04:40 PM

In accord with what has been said, Assad Allah of Isfahan has been presumed to be one of the greatest Persian swordsmiths (1571-1629) and who worked in the time of Shah Abbas I the great Safavid ruler. ("Islamic Armourers and Their Works", L.A.Mayer, Geneva 1962).

It seems that there was mention that the name may have had a regal connection that had to do with taxation and being exempt due to that distinction. Therefore it is unclear as to whether actual person, or possibly may have been shop or production entity etc.
Obviously with blades bearing that inscription it is impossible to have been made by an individual over two centuries, so this does fall into the 'ANDREA FERARA' tradition of Scottish blades, as well as the mysterious Frankish ULFBERTH blades.

The blades bearing this name as well as their notably trade blade version with the lion in the sun pictograph were profoundly distributed throughout the Ottoman Empire where Persian blades were of highest esteem. There are numbers of Ottoman pala with these kinds of blades as well as tulwars in India. With the examples made in original fashion with inscription in cartouche and this name, most appear of course to be simply using the name Assad Allah.

The best description of the history on this topic "The Persian Shamshir and the Signature of Assad Allah", Oliver Pinchot, Vol.40, #1, Feb.2002, Canadian Journal of Arms Collecting.

Also: "Islamic Armorers and Their Works", L.A. Mayer, Geneva, 1962

"Asadallah Esfahani", A.S. Melikian-Chirvani, in Encyclopedia Iranica , Vol.II, fasc. 7,1987

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27th June 2025, 04:40 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,512	In accord with what has been said, Assad Allah of Isfahan has been presumed to be one of the greatest Persian swordsmiths (1571-1629) and who worked in the time of Shah Abbas I the great Safavid ruler. ("Islamic Armourers and Their Works", L.A.Mayer, Geneva 1962). It seems that there was mention that the name may have had a regal connection that had to do with taxation and being exempt due to that distinction. Therefore it is unclear as to whether actual person, or possibly may have been shop or production entity etc. Obviously with blades bearing that inscription it is impossible to have been made by an individual over two centuries, so this does fall into the 'ANDREA FERARA' tradition of Scottish blades, as well as the mysterious Frankish ULFBERTH blades. The blades bearing this name as well as their notably trade blade version with the lion in the sun pictograph were profoundly distributed throughout the Ottoman Empire where Persian blades were of highest esteem. There are numbers of Ottoman pala with these kinds of blades as well as tulwars in India. With the examples made in original fashion with inscription in cartouche and this name, most appear of course to be simply using the name Assad Allah. The best description of the history on this topic "The Persian Shamshir and the Signature of Assad Allah", Oliver Pinchot, Vol.40, #1, Feb.2002, Canadian Journal of Arms Collecting. Also: "Islamic Armorers and Their Works", L.A. Mayer, Geneva, 1962 "Asadallah Esfahani", A.S. Melikian-Chirvani, in Encyclopedia Iranica , Vol.II, fasc. 7,1987