Khevsurian sword

Gavin Nugent · 11th April 2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALEX

correct - the brass bands are characteristic for hilts (and scabbards!). There could also be brass inlays on crossguards, as on our examples. Below is another example of a crossguard with brass inlay elements. The brass inlay is more of a Georgian feature, but the cheaselled script is Persian.

Gav, it is hard to say whether it is "trophy or war or a sword of trade decorated in native Georgian fashion". My opinion is toward the later - the Persian blade is much more likely to be a "trade" object, furnished in local style, by commission/order or to make it more sellable - still a well practiced trade, whereas the "trophies of war" is not, Thanks God!

Thanks Alex, I was glad to see the edit ;-)

Here is one below listed at AI as

"A RARE KHEVSUR KHMALI SWORD"...why both denominations...covering all bases or am I missing something.

Below it is an image of what I believe to be a Khevseur warrior, look close to the sword, it appears to have no bands and be of a Persian form.

Explanations please

Gavin Nugent · 20th April 2011, 12:45 PM

BUMP

No takers, no guessing???

There was a wealth of knowledge from members when reading past posts about weapons from these regions

Gavin Nugent · 22nd May 2011, 07:45 AM

A couple of more images that also show other Khevsureti with curved sabres of Pesian styling and scabbards free from brass binding...

The upper image, the middle chap with an unbound scabbard, curved sabre with a hilt type often refered to as Khmali....

The lower image labeled Khevsurian as is the image in the post above, again, a curved sabre with unbound scabbard and Persian style hilt.

There seems to be no absolute about Khevsur swords just a majority of brass bound swords....what gives?

Also here at 2min 21 and 2min 25(being the same image from the above post);

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Pq8...eature=related

....more questions than answers...anyone want to break from tradition and offer an explanation as to the subtleties of these sabres.....and with khmali being old world Georgian, where does one turn to in a new world for details....

Ariel, your up to speed with this I am sure, do you understand enough to offer a better explanation

Gav

Gavin Nugent · 25th January 2012, 10:53 PM

A long awaited bump.

Clear photographic evidence provided and auction edivence from those who know but no one wanted to put forth an explanation despite firm resolutions about what swords these warriors used should be and looked like.

Surely someone want to go against tradition and provide a theory behind or beyond it....

Kiziria · 17th July 2012, 04:50 AM

Greetings freebooter !
Its been long time since my last visit. I hope my intrusion into this obviously abandoned conversation might yet turned out helpful for you.
First of all allow me to make few corrections to provided information. The picture of seated warrior in chain mail, signed in Russian script “Xevsur” is well known picture from Russian collection of types of the Caucasus. However on the picture is not a khevsur highlander but a person that was hired by the studio to pose in khevsurian garment. The armament on the picture is assembled from various sources and there for is not entirely khevsurian. Saber is not of khevsurian style as well as head piece and clothing below the knee.
Next to above mentioned picture is another one of the saber , signed “khevsur khmali ….”
It is not however khevsurian , though I agree it shares some features. The saber is typical for Kartly and Kaheti regions of Eastern Georgia. The distinctive features are elements of scabbard. The blade itself is of curved “gorda” type or also known as “gurji gurda” its distinctive features are fullers and marks on the blade. So how to distinguish khevsurian saber or palash . One should keep in mind that scabbards of khevsurian swords are extensively or completely covered in metal. I will try to post few examples of such scabbards.
Best,
VK

Kiziria · 17th July 2012, 04:53 AM

I have tryed to attach pictures to text but unsucsesfully

How to paste pictures in ? Anybody?

Nathaniel · 17th July 2012, 05:47 AM

Hello Kiziria

Here is a link on how to post pictures on the forum. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631

I'm guessing that your photo needs to be reduced in size, "Pictures which you upload must not exceed 1280 pixels in width, 1280 pixels in height or a file size of 1mb if they are not to be rejected"

22nd May 2011, 07:45 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	More questions than answers A couple of more images that also show other Khevsureti with curved sabres of Pesian styling and scabbards free from brass binding... The upper image, the middle chap with an unbound scabbard, curved sabre with a hilt type often refered to as Khmali.... The lower image labeled Khevsurian as is the image in the post above, again, a curved sabre with unbound scabbard and Persian style hilt. There seems to be no absolute about Khevsur swords just a majority of brass bound swords....what gives? Also here at 2min 21 and 2min 25(being the same image from the above post); http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Pq8...eature=related ....more questions than answers...anyone want to break from tradition and offer an explanation as to the subtleties of these sabres.....and with khmali being old world Georgian, where does one turn to in a new world for details.... Ariel, your up to speed with this I am sure, do you understand enough to offer a better explanation Gav Attached Images Last edited by freebooter; 22nd May 2011 at 09:58 AM. Reason: addition of video link

17th July 2012, 04:50 AM	#5
Kiziria Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	answer to freebooter Greetings freebooter ! Its been long time since my last visit. I hope my intrusion into this obviously abandoned conversation might yet turned out helpful for you. First of all allow me to make few corrections to provided information. The picture of seated warrior in chain mail, signed in Russian script “Xevsur” is well known picture from Russian collection of types of the Caucasus. However on the picture is not a khevsur highlander but a person that was hired by the studio to pose in khevsurian garment. The armament on the picture is assembled from various sources and there for is not entirely khevsurian. Saber is not of khevsurian style as well as head piece and clothing below the knee. Next to above mentioned picture is another one of the saber , signed “khevsur khmali ….” It is not however khevsurian , though I agree it shares some features. The saber is typical for Kartly and Kaheti regions of Eastern Georgia. The distinctive features are elements of scabbard. The blade itself is of curved “gorda” type or also known as “gurji gurda” its distinctive features are fullers and marks on the blade. So how to distinguish khevsurian saber or palash . One should keep in mind that scabbards of khevsurian swords are extensively or completely covered in metal. I will try to post few examples of such scabbards. Best, VK Last edited by Kiziria; 17th July 2012 at 09:52 PM.

20th April 2011, 12:45 PM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	BUMP No takers, no guessing??? There was a wealth of knowledge from members when reading past posts about weapons from these regions

25th January 2012, 10:53 PM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A long awaited bump. Clear photographic evidence provided and auction edivence from those who know but no one wanted to put forth an explanation despite firm resolutions about what swords these warriors used should be and looked like. Surely someone want to go against tradition and provide a theory behind or beyond it....

17th July 2012, 04:53 AM	#6
Kiziria Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 26	I have tryed to attach pictures to text but unsucsesfully How to paste pictures in ? Anybody?

17th July 2012, 05:47 AM	#7
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Hello Kiziria Here is a link on how to post pictures on the forum. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631 I'm guessing that your photo needs to be reduced in size, "Pictures which you upload must not exceed 1280 pixels in width, 1280 pixels in height or a file size of 1mb if they are not to be rejected"