Blade (caucasian ?!)

Jim McDougall · 16th August 2010, 05:59 PM

Looks rather modern to me, of course I cant see the hilt, but as far as I know they didnt forge wootz type blades in the auls of the Caucusus. In modern times however blade makers on reproduction swords have gotten very skilled at making nice blades like this.

The inlaid cross and orb is indeed imitating early European blades, which were not wootz, and the animal figure looks like an artistic rendering of the 'running wolf' (ters maymal in Chechen terminology, still not sure of the literal meaning)....it looks more like its intended to be a lion though if thats a mane in those wavy lines.
Nicely crafted, but not very old in my opinion. We'll see what the experts say

16th August 2010, 05:59 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	Looks rather modern to me, of course I cant see the hilt, but as far as I know they didnt forge wootz type blades in the auls of the Caucusus. In modern times however blade makers on reproduction swords have gotten very skilled at making nice blades like this. The inlaid cross and orb is indeed imitating early European blades, which were not wootz, and the animal figure looks like an artistic rendering of the 'running wolf' (ters maymal in Chechen terminology, still not sure of the literal meaning)....it looks more like its intended to be a lion though if thats a mane in those wavy lines. Nicely crafted, but not very old in my opinion. We'll see what the experts say