An indian shamshir with a persian blade

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by ariel

Sorry to hear that your information about the history of Central Asia and The Great Game came only from Russian books.
Recommend Peter Hopkirk's "The Great Game", by far the best source. You might enjoy it: very detailed and fascinating analysis, reads like a thriller. Get it.
Till you read the above 3 books I withdraw from any further discussions of the subject. After that we can talk.

Are we done talking about politics? I am glad that you read not 2 books on the history of the region, but as many as 3. By the way, I cannot but agree with you. Hopkirk's book is really not bad. Although perhaps also a little biased. But this is normal, given that it was written by an English-speaking author I recommend that you still read Russian-speaking authors in order to be able to look at the historical processes in the region from two sides. Also, it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with the works of French and German researchers of the region. If you are interested in them, write to the PM and I will tell you their names.

However, let's get back to the subject by discussing this topic. Maybe you place in this topic photos of the Central Asian shamshirs that you spoke about at the beginning?

[mahratt]

Persian shamshir with a handle covered with leather from the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/30903

[Drabant1701]

Many thanks all for your kind words. While browsing sold auctions at bonhams i found this sword with leather on wood and with gold applied in a similar manner as the subject sword. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18814/lot/46/

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

Many thanks all for your kind words. While browsing sold auctions at bonhams i found this sword with leather on wood and with gold applied in a similar manner as the subject sword. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18814/lot/46/

Great example, Drabant. Congratulations! In my opinion, you have found undeniable confirmation of the Indian origin of your shamshir.
The only pity is that Ariel will not please us with images of leather handles of shamshirs from Central Asia. I was so hoping to close the gaps in my knowledge on this subject.

[rand]

Hello,

You have a wonderful Shamshir. I have one question, on the spine of the blade near the cross guard, can you see any folds in the steel? And if so, is there anything inlaid into the exposed fold?

Thanks,
rand

[Drabant1701]

Originally Posted by rand

Hello,

You have a wonderful Shamshir. I have one question, on the spine of the blade near the cross guard, can you see any folds in the steel? And if so, is there anything inlaid into the exposed fold?

Thanks,
rand

There is a line all the way from the crossguard down to the tip along the back of the sword, it is filled with a silver like metal.

[kai]

There is a line all the way from the crossguard down to the tip along the back of the sword, it is filled with a silver like metal.

Sounds like a quality blade!

Can someone comment on the quite rough inlay done for the cartouche?

Regards,
Kai

[ariel]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

There is a line all the way from the crossguard down to the tip along the back of the sword, it is filled with a silver like metal.

A “crack” on the spine is the remainder of the upper junky layer of a wootz ingot. Sometimes it remains empty, but sometimes it is filled with a silver wire. The trick of forging the ingot into the blade is to bring this part of ingot to the middle of the spine. Usually this “crack” is no more than ~10 cm long. I have never seen it going all the way to the tip. This would be a sign of a superb bladesmith. Can you show it?
The “crack is very helpful if the blade was oxydized and the wootz pattern is no longer visible. Then one can be sure that polishing and etching will bring the pattern back.

[rand]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

There is a line all the way from the crossguard down to the tip along the back of the sword, it is filled with a silver like metal.

The inclusion running down the spine is can be seen on better blades filled with silver or gold, gold being used in the best blades. Going down the entire spine would be unusual.

rand