[GePi]

Hello,

I would like to present a very elaborately decorated Kard I acquired last year and on which I finally finished the last bit of restoration work. It is extensively decorated with chiselling and gold inlay in a Persian manner, but due to several features (recurved blade, 'beaked' pommel, raised rivet heads, scabbard style) I am certain it comes from Afghanistan.

Is is dated to 1272 AH - 1855/1856 AD. The wootz pattern is quite nice in general, but it has quite a few flaws with areas where it complety disappears, which to me fits both to the late date of manufacuture and an origin outside of the major production centers in Iran.

For the maker's name I would suggest احمد صوفی الله - Ahmad Sufi Allah, and for the small aftabi inlay on the spine of the blade يا الله - Oh Allah.

The inscriptions on the backstrap and on the flats of the blade are way too complicated to read for me, although I can certainly spot several Allahs and Alis, so I would assume they are of a religious nature. If Kwiatek or someone else would be able to decipher those I would be very grateful.