Stamped Wootz Shamshir?

ALEX · 26th January 2006, 11:13 AM

This blade just came straight from Damascus, Syria. A friend of mine found it by accident (after Russians and Saudis started cleaning Damascus markets dry, Damascus Steel in Damascus became very scarce and awfully expensive).
Based on the pattern (Network?) and size (the blade is 31''), it resembles a Persian Shamshir (18C?), but less curved than normal(?). The stamp is surrounded by a dark area. I've heard "it's for mystical reasons" story, but I think it just developed too much pitting as a result of not being cleaned around the stamp, as to preserve the gold inlay. I am no expert on stamps, but this looks like Assad Allah stamp. I've heard he had two schools - one in Persia and second in Syria, and his stamp was used in both places, by him or his students (?). I stipulated it's a Syrian make (?)

If you have any How-To advice on how to handle/restore the blade, especially the area around the stamp, and/or have any comments on it - would love to hear from you.

And finally some useful Arabic words:

-ASSAD in Arabic means LION, that is why you can see a lion stamp on some Assad Allah blades, and on this blade, in the left circle.
-SHAM in Arabic means Damascus (not Syrian).
-SHAMS means Sun, thus is NOT applicable when used to describe any wootz pattern.

Rick, this blade resembles your shaska. Based on the pattern - we've got twins

26th January 2006, 11:13 AM	#1
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 935	Stamped Wootz Shamshir? This blade just came straight from Damascus, Syria. A friend of mine found it by accident (after Russians and Saudis started cleaning Damascus markets dry, Damascus Steel in Damascus became very scarce and awfully expensive). Based on the pattern (Network?) and size (the blade is 31''), it resembles a Persian Shamshir (18C?), but less curved than normal(?). The stamp is surrounded by a dark area. I've heard "it's for mystical reasons" story, but I think it just developed too much pitting as a result of not being cleaned around the stamp, as to preserve the gold inlay. I am no expert on stamps, but this looks like Assad Allah stamp. I've heard he had two schools - one in Persia and second in Syria, and his stamp was used in both places, by him or his students (?). I stipulated it's a Syrian make (?) If you have any How-To advice on how to handle/restore the blade, especially the area around the stamp, and/or have any comments on it - would love to hear from you. And finally some useful Arabic words: -ASSAD in Arabic means LION, that is why you can see a lion stamp on some Assad Allah blades, and on this blade, in the left circle. -SHAM in Arabic means Damascus (not Syrian). -SHAMS means Sun, thus is NOT applicable when used to describe any wootz pattern. Rick, this blade resembles your shaska. Based on the pattern - we've got twins Attached Images