Kilij.

David R · 3rd April 2012, 10:18 PM

Another of my bargain box pieces. Most stuff I get my hands on, I have a good idea of provinance and date, but the odd item I would really like input from someone better informed than myself. This is a Kilij, but from where?
Full tang, horn grip scales held by a concealed pin. Multi fullered blade with differing numbers of, as they go up the blade. Yelman, and so a kilij rather than a shamshir. The blade is quite light in weight, and I think a plain steel rather than anything patterned.
Alas the guard is missing, and the scabbard reduced to a stripped core, all metal gone.
Comments and suggestions welcomed and indeed invited. Pardon the photo's, I do my best.

David R · 6th April 2012, 11:52 PM

More info on the sword if that helps.
Blade length 79cm, 31 inches. Grip/hilt length 13cm or 5 inches, measurements taken from/to the point where the horn grip ends, an area showing remains of resin used to secure the guard, blade width 3.15 cm or 1.2 inches, thickness just over 4 mill, or about an eighth of an inch.

TVV · 10th April 2012, 01:15 AM

David,

Sorry nobody has responded. Yes, this is the Ottoman sword that we collectors like to call kilij, after the Turkish word for sword.

Teodor

broadaxe · 10th April 2012, 05:25 PM

Interesting piece. This type is sometimes identified as naval saber, possibly Greek.

BerberDagger · 10th April 2012, 06:21 PM

in my opinion the blade is ottoman , it is a very nice blade congratualtion.

TKV · 14th April 2012, 03:35 PM

These straight-bladed swords were used in Ottoman Navy

David R · 14th April 2012, 05:30 PM

Thanks everyone. There seems to be a concensus that it is Ottoman Navy, which makes it for me an even more interesting sword. Also gives me a direction for my next search, which is what style of guard it would have had.
I had wondered if it was Central Asian, because of the multi fullering, but the grip style and lack of curvature did not fit with that idea.

A.alnakkas · 15th April 2012, 08:02 PM

David,

The crossguard should look something like this one:

http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=3925

David R · 16th April 2012, 01:31 AM

Thankyou.
That guard is quite a bit different to the normal ones you see, I shall have to see what I can make.

3rd April 2012, 10:18 PM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	Kilij. Another of my bargain box pieces. Most stuff I get my hands on, I have a good idea of provinance and date, but the odd item I would really like input from someone better informed than myself. This is a Kilij, but from where? Full tang, horn grip scales held by a concealed pin. Multi fullered blade with differing numbers of, as they go up the blade. Yelman, and so a kilij rather than a shamshir. The blade is quite light in weight, and I think a plain steel rather than anything patterned. Alas the guard is missing, and the scabbard reduced to a stripped core, all metal gone. Comments and suggestions welcomed and indeed invited. Pardon the photo's, I do my best. Attached Images

6th April 2012, 11:52 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	More info on the sword if that helps. Blade length 79cm, 31 inches. Grip/hilt length 13cm or 5 inches, measurements taken from/to the point where the horn grip ends, an area showing remains of resin used to secure the guard, blade width 3.15 cm or 1.2 inches, thickness just over 4 mill, or about an eighth of an inch.

10th April 2012, 01:15 AM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,597	David, Sorry nobody has responded. Yes, this is the Ottoman sword that we collectors like to call kilij, after the Turkish word for sword. Teodor

10th April 2012, 05:25 PM	#4
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 332	Interesting piece. This type is sometimes identified as naval saber, possibly Greek.

10th April 2012, 06:21 PM	#5
BerberDagger Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 247	in my opinion the blade is ottoman , it is a very nice blade congratualtion.

14th April 2012, 03:35 PM	#6
TKV Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 32	These straight-bladed swords were used in Ottoman Navy

14th April 2012, 05:30 PM	#7
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	Thanks everyone. There seems to be a concensus that it is Ottoman Navy, which makes it for me an even more interesting sword. Also gives me a direction for my next search, which is what style of guard it would have had. I had wondered if it was Central Asian, because of the multi fullering, but the grip style and lack of curvature did not fit with that idea.

15th April 2012, 08:02 PM	#8
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,338	David, The crossguard should look something like this one: http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=3925

16th April 2012, 01:31 AM	#9
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	Thankyou. That guard is quite a bit different to the normal ones you see, I shall have to see what I can make.