Shashka??? Or what ????

David R · 27th March 2016, 08:45 PM

My bet is Central Asia, Bukhara or thereabouts!

ALEX · 27th March 2016, 09:19 PM

I also think it is Indian/Afghani.

estcrh · 28th March 2016, 02:38 AM

The point of the blade reminds me of some pulwar I have seen.

Quote:

A shasqua
dating: circa 1900
Strong, single-and false-edged blade with double groove and tang; grip featuring wooden grip scales and silver, partially carved and nielloed mounts. The sword knot shaped as a wooden barrel.
Provenance: Provenance: Caucasia

Dimensions: dimensions: length 97 cm.

David R · 28th March 2016, 12:44 PM

From my files.

ariel · 28th March 2016, 03:27 PM

David,
I do not think so.
Yours is a classical "Bukharan" saber of a shashka-like form with 5 rivets ( we discussed them already).
The one from Czerny's is a totally different animal, IMHO. Much closed to the Afghani "pseudo-shashka".

P.S.

A friend of mine from Belarus sent me pics of that sword published on another auction. Here we can see the upper part of the blade with the "box-like" system of fullers.
AFAIK, this is very typical of Afghani blades.

TVV · 28th March 2016, 06:36 PM

It is rare, but not completely uncommon for Afghan blades to have traveled West. Here is an example of such a blade, with a shashka hilt, in clearly Ottoman scabbard:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...hlight=shashka

Teodor

ariel · 28th March 2016, 07:32 PM

Gentlemen,
Here is an Afghani Pulwar with identical fullering.

I checked Askhabov, Astvatsaturyan and Rivkin's books as well as my own Caucasian Shashkas and there are no similar examples.
Moreover, look at the handle: the "cheeks" are separated by wide distance covered with a strap. This is absolutely incompatible with Caucasian examples, but identical to Afghani pesh kabzes, chooras and pseudo-shashkas.

The only strange thing is the "dimple" next to the bolster for the index finger and ( perhaps) rather short pommel.

But the more I look at it, the stronger I feel for the Afghani origin.

28th March 2016, 12:44 PM	#4
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,123	From my files. Attached Images

28th March 2016, 03:27 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	David, I do not think so. Yours is a classical "Bukharan" saber of a shashka-like form with 5 rivets ( we discussed them already). The one from Czerny's is a totally different animal, IMHO. Much closed to the Afghani "pseudo-shashka". P.S. A friend of mine from Belarus sent me pics of that sword published on another auction. Here we can see the upper part of the blade with the "box-like" system of fullers. AFAIK, this is very typical of Afghani blades. Attached Images

28th March 2016, 07:32 PM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Gentlemen, Here is an Afghani Pulwar with identical fullering. I checked Askhabov, Astvatsaturyan and Rivkin's books as well as my own Caucasian Shashkas and there are no similar examples. Moreover, look at the handle: the "cheeks" are separated by wide distance covered with a strap. This is absolutely incompatible with Caucasian examples, but identical to Afghani pesh kabzes, chooras and pseudo-shashkas. The only strange thing is the "dimple" next to the bolster for the index finger and ( perhaps) rather short pommel. But the more I look at it, the stronger I feel for the Afghani origin. Attached Images

27th March 2016, 08:45 PM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,123	My bet is Central Asia, Bukhara or thereabouts!

27th March 2016, 09:19 PM	#2
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	I also think it is Indian/Afghani.

28th March 2016, 06:36 PM	#6
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,666	It is rare, but not completely uncommon for Afghan blades to have traveled West. Here is an example of such a blade, with a shashka hilt, in clearly Ottoman scabbard: http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...hlight=shashka Teodor