Kindjal to share, help please, markings, age, location, thanks

JoeCanada42 · 22nd April 2021, 05:40 PM

Mariusgmioc ,thanks, I am still researching kindjals on this forum, and I can see that you have shared a lot and know a lot. I never said mine is higher quality because of the silver, I guess as far as kindjals go mine does lack embellishment, but in comparison to other apparently Caucasus/ Georgian 19c examples I think its a fair example, despite the cleaning its in good functioning condition.
I agree in general with what you said. but while a bad cleaning or rust may effect appeal, value, and perhaps integrity, it can be remedied to an extent, and for my collecting purposes, it doesn't stop the antique from being old which is the biggest quality appeal to me. I also understand why in general fullers are adding value, but maybe for a short sword the fullers weren't necessary or common at the time or with the maker. I dont know yet.., I still would like to know what these marks on the kindjal are called? and if there was a reason the mark would sometimes appear in double. other than decoration.
I could venture to polish the blade, and then learn to etch it, would a Damascus pattern likely be underneath? or maybe a 1% chance wootz?

mariusgmioc · 22nd April 2021, 08:38 PM

There is always some chance to be wootz or pattern welded. Now whether it is 1% or 0.002735%, I don't know.

Regarding the mark on the blade, I have a Georgian one with the same marking, and pattern welded blade.

ariel · 23rd April 2021, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCanada42

I could venture to polish the blade, and then learn to etch it, would a Damascus pattern likely be underneath? or maybe a 1% chance wootz?

Don’t bother. Caucasian blades are almost never damascus: too expensive and time consuming. The only exception where pattern - welding was relatively frequent are kindjals coming from Guria. And this is not a Gurian one.
And wootz .... forget about it. The last master who (rarely) forged wootz blades from Indian ingots was Geurk Elizarov , and you kindjal is somewhere from late 19th century up to the WW2. They never made their own wootz ingots.

JoeCanada42 · 23rd April 2021, 01:42 AM

I wont clean it, it shows the age and I like that.
thanks for the info concerning the chances of it of it though.
Mariusgmoic that does look like the same mark. surely there is info about it somewhere but I haven't fount it yet.
I collected a few versions, as someone who doesn't know yet i could guess it resembles a byzantine rooftop, a tureen or a poppy flower.

22nd April 2021, 08:38 PM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	There is always some chance to be wootz or pattern welded. Now whether it is 1% or 0.002735%, I don't know. Regarding the mark on the blade, I have a Georgian one with the same marking, and pattern welded blade. Attached Images

23rd April 2021, 01:42 AM	#4
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	I wont clean it, it shows the age and I like that. thanks for the info concerning the chances of it of it though. Mariusgmoic that does look like the same mark. surely there is info about it somewhere but I haven't fount it yet. I collected a few versions, as someone who doesn't know yet i could guess it resembles a byzantine rooftop, a tureen or a poppy flower. Attached Images

22nd April 2021, 05:40 PM	#1
JoeCanada42 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 259	Mariusgmioc ,thanks, I am still researching kindjals on this forum, and I can see that you have shared a lot and know a lot. I never said mine is higher quality because of the silver, I guess as far as kindjals go mine does lack embellishment, but in comparison to other apparently Caucasus/ Georgian 19c examples I think its a fair example, despite the cleaning its in good functioning condition. I agree in general with what you said. but while a bad cleaning or rust may effect appeal, value, and perhaps integrity, it can be remedied to an extent, and for my collecting purposes, it doesn't stop the antique from being old which is the biggest quality appeal to me. I also understand why in general fullers are adding value, but maybe for a short sword the fullers weren't necessary or common at the time or with the maker. I dont know yet.., I still would like to know what these marks on the kindjal are called? and if there was a reason the mark would sometimes appear in double. other than decoration. I could venture to polish the blade, and then learn to etch it, would a Damascus pattern likely be underneath? or maybe a 1% chance wootz?