Karabela, any thoughts, which century, origin?

serdar · 13th August 2025, 09:59 PM

Persian?

I realy dont know, maybe it is, crossguard is ottoman but surely with persian influence, some palas, and karabelas i have, older examples have similar crossguards, and are taken as war trophies from atacking ottoman armies in Montenegro and Dalmatia from my ancestors, but blade to me looks indian maybe indo persian, maybe it is, fullers and back of the blade looks european, but generaly blade to me looks indo or indo persian.

Thing is swords becouse of the trade of the blades were mix and mix, i saw a lot of european blades on ottoman mountings, even kilij blades on tulwar handles, etc.
They are from period, but today people proclaime them like 19 century frankenswords.

I have a sword that was originaly old 16-17 century european saber, genoa most probably, but was taken in battle by ottomans and mounted in silver mounting in ottoman 17/18 style, and then taken by Montenegrins in a battle,and incrusted blade in gold with royal insignia.

13th August 2025, 09:59 PM	#6
serdar Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 234	Persian? I realy dont know, maybe it is, crossguard is ottoman but surely with persian influence, some palas, and karabelas i have, older examples have similar crossguards, and are taken as war trophies from atacking ottoman armies in Montenegro and Dalmatia from my ancestors, but blade to me looks indian maybe indo persian, maybe it is, fullers and back of the blade looks european, but generaly blade to me looks indo or indo persian. Thing is swords becouse of the trade of the blades were mix and mix, i saw a lot of european blades on ottoman mountings, even kilij blades on tulwar handles, etc. They are from period, but today people proclaime them like 19 century frankenswords. I have a sword that was originaly old 16-17 century european saber, genoa most probably, but was taken in battle by ottomans and mounted in silver mounting in ottoman 17/18 style, and then taken by Montenegrins in a battle,and incrusted blade in gold with royal insignia.