Shamshir with serpentine blade - age?

Multumesc · 4th February 2013, 10:34 AM

Very nice Shamshir! Congratulations.

RSWORD · 4th February 2013, 12:35 PM

Welcome to the forum! Thanks for sharing a nice Ottoman shamshir. I would date this example to the early 19th century. I would speculate that the blade started out life as a pure shamshir blade and later in life was altered into this serpentine shape. Still, nicely done as it seems to have pretty good flow and uniformity throughout. If you rotate your picture of the cartouche there are members on the forum that might be able to translate it.

ariel · 4th February 2013, 01:22 PM

The handle is Ottoman, the scabbard has some Aravian influences ( akrab). I would tilt toward late Ottoman , when the Turks were still in control of the Arabian Peninsula: early to middle 19th century.

A.alnakkas · 4th February 2013, 01:46 PM

Nice one. Agree with Rsword, the blade was probably a normal shamshir that was changed to this. Is there a reason to do so? My guess would be that the edge was damaged and was reshaped but that doesnt explain changing the back aswell!

Ariel, the scabbard is pure Ottoman with emblems etc, no agrab so I dont think this one was in Arabia.

JBarnett · 4th February 2013, 02:24 PM

Wow ! Thanks for all the input on this piece - I had been thinking mid-19th century but I was merely guessing. Here is the cartouche rotated. Thanks again. Most of my collection is European but I have a few middle eastern pieces, tulwars, kards and jambiyas, but this one is a definately one of my favorites - its sharp too!

John

4th February 2013, 02:24 PM	#5
JBarnett Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Alaska Posts: 8	Wow ! Thanks for all the input on this piece - I had been thinking mid-19th century but I was merely guessing. Here is the cartouche rotated. Thanks again. Most of my collection is European but I have a few middle eastern pieces, tulwars, kards and jambiyas, but this one is a definately one of my favorites - its sharp too! John Attached Images

4th February 2013, 10:34 AM	#1
Multumesc Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 204	Very nice Shamshir! Congratulations.

4th February 2013, 12:35 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,089	Welcome to the forum! Thanks for sharing a nice Ottoman shamshir. I would date this example to the early 19th century. I would speculate that the blade started out life as a pure shamshir blade and later in life was altered into this serpentine shape. Still, nicely done as it seems to have pretty good flow and uniformity throughout. If you rotate your picture of the cartouche there are members on the forum that might be able to translate it.

4th February 2013, 01:22 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The handle is Ottoman, the scabbard has some Aravian influences ( akrab). I would tilt toward late Ottoman , when the Turks were still in control of the Arabian Peninsula: early to middle 19th century.

4th February 2013, 01:46 PM	#4
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Nice one. Agree with Rsword, the blade was probably a normal shamshir that was changed to this. Is there a reason to do so? My guess would be that the edge was damaged and was reshaped but that doesnt explain changing the back aswell! Ariel, the scabbard is pure Ottoman with emblems etc, no agrab so I dont think this one was in Arabia.