Origins of karabela

[Jim McDougall]

As noted by Ibrahiim, the Polish and Hungarians often adopted Turkish sword designs, developing into the familiar szabla which became the dashing cavalry sabres of Europe. With thier constant warfare with the Turks and thier incursions naturally there would be significant influence. The Persian influences throughout most of these cultural spheres cannot be ignored despite how subtle or indirect they were. Like most diffusion of influence culturally, just as with most instances of discovery and invention, these are the result of typically gradually occurring events and occurrences which culminate into established entities which then develop into having thier own identity.

I would imagine the adoption of these trilobate type hilts from those used by janissaries and in other Ottoman circumstances in regions of Arabia would be from Ottoman suzerainty and trade there. It is interesting to note that the well known repousse silverwork trilobate hilt Arabian sa'if usually attributed to San'aa and Hadhramaut have been regarded to often have been produced in Hyderabad in India. It would seem that the style must have been furnished to those artisans from Arabian sources as I cannot offhand think of other Indian hilts with karabela styling.

[ariel]

Here is a pic from Yucel's book about Topkapi collection. Usually, the authors are very fastidious about potential alterations to the swords and their furniture, not sparing even the examples attributed to Muhammed, his companions and the first Caliphs.
This sword has no corrections and equivocations. In the authors' opinion, therefore, it is as original and pristine as can be.
It is dated to early 10th century Hijra/16th century CE. Signed by Ahmad al-Tuqati, embellished with Seljuk motives.


Thus, Turkish "karabela" handles were in existence at least 100 years before Shah Abbas I, the purported "inventor" of that style traipsed to Karbala.

[ariel]

And here are 2 Yemeni Nimchas, 19th century, with rudimentary "karabela" handles. Ottoman Turks " were there, done that":-)

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ariel

And here are 2 Yemeni Nimchas, 19th century, with rudimentary "karabela" handles. Ottoman Turks " were there, done that":-)

Salaams ! Ariel whilst Ive now sorted out my camera in support of your Turkish style hilt with a picture of a sketch of Selim the Grims son Suleyman the Magnificent and Janissaries with swords ~ The date of the engraving is 1559 A.D.

I might add that the cross guard of the style you show at your last post (left above) is normally Saudia in form.(According to Buttin).

I agree generally that the Yemeni style is as you show though it can have a variety of guards. It is, however, of the group Zanzibari style...One could pontificate all day about which pot it was boiled in but there it is; according to Buttin.

My only caution here is that you have almost entirely written off the influence of Syrian and Iranian form in its entirity whereas I can't do that since there was a lot of cross polination in style...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All ~ I thought it rather odd that we have here a thread which takes an arguement perhaps half way up the hill and stops ? Is there anyone sitting on the fence who can run with this one...or was it something I said ?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams all ~ I have a Karabela.... The weapon came to hand for a friend who bought the item in Mutrah souk Muscat some 2 decades ago and is interesting since it has a dot on the tip of what appears to be a European imported blade ...and a typical Yemeni to Oman inter souk traded item. The design is clearly a local Yemeni copy of Peter Munich of Solingen style...(1595-1660) I believe so liked because of its moon phase ... and generally well respected blade...The moon phase also likely to have been copied by Munich from Juan Martinez of Toledo (mid 16th C)

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.