Shamshir with central ridge

Jim McDougall · 21st May 2009, 07:25 AM

This is an incredibly intriguing Ottoman shamshir, and I cannot say I have ever seen a shamshir or any parabolic blade being double edged. This central ridge is indeed characteristic of khanjars and janbiyya of many styles.

One style of janbiyya found in the Asir and the Hejaz of Arabia is quite long, somewhat curved, and with central ridge (Robert Elgood, "Arms and Armour of Arabia , london, 1994, p.76). While this is clearly not a 'sword', it does have distinct length and perhaps the idea of a prestigious, unique shamshir with blade in the style of these profoundly personal daggers might have been somehow commissioned with this in mind.

I would think that this Ottoman shamshir may have been produced in Syria for an Ottoman officer or official possibly garrisoned in these regions, or perhaps with the inscriptions, this may have been a diplomatic gift or presentation for one of the sharifs.

It would be most interesting to know of any other examples of such unusual shamshir blades.

Best regards,
Jim

21st May 2009, 07:25 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	This is an incredibly intriguing Ottoman shamshir, and I cannot say I have ever seen a shamshir or any parabolic blade being double edged. This central ridge is indeed characteristic of khanjars and janbiyya of many styles. One style of janbiyya found in the Asir and the Hejaz of Arabia is quite long, somewhat curved, and with central ridge (Robert Elgood, "Arms and Armour of Arabia , london, 1994, p.76). While this is clearly not a 'sword', it does have distinct length and perhaps the idea of a prestigious, unique shamshir with blade in the style of these profoundly personal daggers might have been somehow commissioned with this in mind. I would think that this Ottoman shamshir may have been produced in Syria for an Ottoman officer or official possibly garrisoned in these regions, or perhaps with the inscriptions, this may have been a diplomatic gift or presentation for one of the sharifs. It would be most interesting to know of any other examples of such unusual shamshir blades. Best regards, Jim