Video on Circassian Blades

Mercenary · 21st February 2012, 07:55 PM

The basic thought - a shashka has occurred from a Circassian knife for cutting grapevine.
The form of hilt - roundish and doubled ears (as yatagan) - simulates a bone.
The handle rotates in a arm as though the additional joint works.
Therefore the weapon is continuation of a hand.

sirupate · 22nd February 2012, 08:40 PM

Even though I hadn't a clue about what they were saying, I found it very interesting

delor · 22nd February 2012, 11:36 PM

Mercenary, thanks a lot for these explanations.
Could you please explain what the woman at the end of the video is saying about the handle and the leather strap she's inserting in it ?
Kind regards,
Bernard

ALEX · 23rd February 2012, 12:55 PM

Bernard,
Mercenary commented about the split at the tip of the handle - it's thought to resemble the (bones) joint, thus making a handle to act more like a joint to fit more naturally to the grip. I have my own “scientific” explanation: less contact surface - less friction!!!!
The lady is a jeweler who was commissioned by a Jordanian prince Ali to supply shashkas to his bodyguards, which are traditionally formed of ethnic Cherkess. She was baffled by a complicated split design whereas it’d be much easier to make a non-split construction by welding a silver strip to the tang (similar to shamshir grip construction) and then weld sides to it. She held a leather strip, instead of silver, to demonstrate it. She also mentioned about her frustration with restorers in other countries, and lack of proper skills in Turkey, China, etc and how she approached different artists who did everything “wrong” and “messed everything up”. She learned the hard way, should have asked the Forum

21st February 2012, 07:55 PM	#1
Mercenary Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 428	The basic thought - a shashka has occurred from a Circassian knife for cutting grapevine. The form of hilt - roundish and doubled ears (as yatagan) - simulates a bone. The handle rotates in a arm as though the additional joint works. Therefore the weapon is continuation of a hand.

22nd February 2012, 08:40 PM	#2
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Even though I hadn't a clue about what they were saying, I found it very interesting

22nd February 2012, 11:36 PM	#3
delor Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marseille - France Posts: 73	Mercenary, thanks a lot for these explanations. Could you please explain what the woman at the end of the video is saying about the handle and the leather strap she's inserting in it ? Kind regards, Bernard

23rd February 2012, 12:55 PM	#4
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Bernard, Mercenary commented about the split at the tip of the handle - it's thought to resemble the (bones) joint, thus making a handle to act more like a joint to fit more naturally to the grip. I have my own “scientific” explanation: less contact surface - less friction!!!! The lady is a jeweler who was commissioned by a Jordanian prince Ali to supply shashkas to his bodyguards, which are traditionally formed of ethnic Cherkess. She was baffled by a complicated split design whereas it’d be much easier to make a non-split construction by welding a silver strip to the tang (similar to shamshir grip construction) and then weld sides to it. She held a leather strip, instead of silver, to demonstrate it. She also mentioned about her frustration with restorers in other countries, and lack of proper skills in Turkey, China, etc and how she approached different artists who did everything “wrong” and “messed everything up”. She learned the hard way, should have asked the Forum