Persian Shamshir-boy's sword?

DaveS · 11th February 2014, 05:07 AM

Here is a shamshir with a walrus ivory karabella style handle. Gold engraved crossguard. The backstrap has silver filigree with three round coral stones on the end. The blade is of Kara-khorassan type wootz, 26 inches long, 31 1/2 inches overall. Unfortunately, no scabbard. The small dimensions make me wonder if it might have been made for a boy. Someone told me that the cartouche says the maker is Assad Allah but I think this blade is one of many later ones that was signed with his name to make it more saleable. I would really appreciate a translation on this sword if possible............Dave.

AJ1356 · 11th February 2014, 02:48 PM

Dave, that is a nice little shamshir, I've seen small ones before but they were Indian mainly. Could be for a small stature man or a rich boy, who knows.
The cartouches read, Servant of Shah e Welaayat, Abbas and Amal e Kalb Ali bin Assad.
Notice the comma before Abbas, I'll have to explain that in another post ones of these days.

DaveS · 11th February 2014, 06:34 PM

AJ1356: Thank you for the translation. I'm thinking this shamshir would date from the early 1800s, but without an inscribed date that is just a guess on my part...........Dave.

ALEX · 13th February 2014, 03:47 PM

Dave, I agree - at least 19th century blade, made for a boy. The handle/cross combo is later, perhaps Balkan/late Ottoman or later addition. Nice quality woots

11th February 2014, 05:07 AM	#1
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Persian Shamshir-boy's sword? Here is a shamshir with a walrus ivory karabella style handle. Gold engraved crossguard. The backstrap has silver filigree with three round coral stones on the end. The blade is of Kara-khorassan type wootz, 26 inches long, 31 1/2 inches overall. Unfortunately, no scabbard. The small dimensions make me wonder if it might have been made for a boy. Someone told me that the cartouche says the maker is Assad Allah but I think this blade is one of many later ones that was signed with his name to make it more saleable. I would really appreciate a translation on this sword if possible............Dave. Attached Images

11th February 2014, 02:48 PM	#2
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 314	Dave, that is a nice little shamshir, I've seen small ones before but they were Indian mainly. Could be for a small stature man or a rich boy, who knows. The cartouches read, Servant of Shah e Welaayat, Abbas and Amal e Kalb Ali bin Assad. Notice the comma before Abbas, I'll have to explain that in another post ones of these days.

11th February 2014, 06:34 PM	#3
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	AJ1356: Thank you for the translation. I'm thinking this shamshir would date from the early 1800s, but without an inscribed date that is just a guess on my part...........Dave.

13th February 2014, 03:47 PM	#4
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 935	Dave, I agree - at least 19th century blade, made for a boy. The handle/cross combo is later, perhaps Balkan/late Ottoman or later addition. Nice quality woots