Russian Roulette

Marcus · 25th October 2014, 05:11 PM

Pay your money, take your chance.

This just in from eBay. Purportedly this came out of Georgia, I am suspecting Afghanistan was where it originated. It is similar to one currently on hold at Oriental arms. I can’t find any marks on the blade and the hilt is interesting with a hole on the back that could be used to attach a lanyard through the hilt. Alternatively, it could be a defect or have come from the age of the item.

Comments welcome. I know it is not an especially awesome piece.

Marcus · 25th October 2014, 05:12 PM

Showing the hole through the hilt.

spiral · 25th October 2014, 06:33 PM

Interesting piece!

The hilt is heated & flattened horn , the hole, is the naturally occurring hollow from the centre of the horn.

spiral

Marcus · 25th October 2014, 06:38 PM

or origin.

Oliver Pinchot · 25th October 2014, 06:43 PM

Spiral is right about the hole.
Often, military blades were mounted as shashkas in period; it was a common practice. But it is also being done now. You might look carefully around the base of the grip, where the blade tang goes in, for traces of modern adhesive such as epoxy.

Why do you think it originated in Afghanistan?

spiral · 25th October 2014, 06:44 PM

Not my subject.....

spiral

Marcus · 25th October 2014, 06:49 PM

No trace of glue. Afghanistan just because of the piece on the Oriental Arms site. No really good reason.

David R · 27th October 2014, 10:29 PM

This one looks good to me! The Afghan shashkas tend to have a distinctive look, usually having a metal mount at the base of the blade like a pesh kabz and a two piece grip.

ariel · 28th October 2014, 09:35 AM

Doesn't look Afghani to me: they have very distinct large and elongated pommel.

25th October 2014, 05:11 PM	#1
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	Russian Roulette Pay your money, take your chance. This just in from eBay. Purportedly this came out of Georgia, I am suspecting Afghanistan was where it originated. It is similar to one currently on hold at Oriental arms. I can’t find any marks on the blade and the hilt is interesting with a hole on the back that could be used to attach a lanyard through the hilt. Alternatively, it could be a defect or have come from the age of the item. Comments welcome. I know it is not an especially awesome piece. Attached Images

25th October 2014, 05:12 PM	#2
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	more pictures Showing the hole through the hilt. Attached Images

25th October 2014, 06:38 PM	#4
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	any guess on age or origin.

25th October 2014, 06:49 PM	#7
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	epoxy No trace of glue. Afghanistan just because of the piece on the Oriental Arms site. No really good reason.

25th October 2014, 06:33 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Interesting piece! The hilt is heated & flattened horn , the hole, is the naturally occurring hollow from the centre of the horn. spiral

25th October 2014, 06:43 PM	#5
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 470	Spiral is right about the hole. Often, military blades were mounted as shashkas in period; it was a common practice. But it is also being done now. You might look carefully around the base of the grip, where the blade tang goes in, for traces of modern adhesive such as epoxy. Why do you think it originated in Afghanistan?

25th October 2014, 06:44 PM	#6
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Not my subject..... spiral

27th October 2014, 10:29 PM	#8
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,135	This one looks good to me! The Afghan shashkas tend to have a distinctive look, usually having a metal mount at the base of the blade like a pesh kabz and a two piece grip.

28th October 2014, 09:35 AM	#9
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Doesn't look Afghani to me: they have very distinct large and elongated pommel.