Kindjal: need help with dating

ariel · 26th April 2007, 04:05 PM

Well, the plot thickens....
I took it to the local Islamic Center and it was examined by their headmaster, who is a teacher of Arabic/Quran/calligraphy.
According to him, the script is quite crude and unsophisticated ( nothing beats Persian fake signatures of Assadullah

), and the inscription is "broken" in the middle:
It is "1" on the left, crudely embellished "Ali" in the middle (GOOD JOB ALEX!!!) and "12" on the right.
According to him, one numeral at the beginning is missing as was often the case in Arabic writings; the full date must be read as either 1112 or 1012.
It sounds too good to be true: either 1603 or 1700 would make it the oldest dated Caucasian Kindjal blade known to man and beast!!!
I shall look for more Middle Eastern linguists ; now I am REALLY!!! intrigued

26th April 2007, 04:05 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Well, the plot thickens.... I took it to the local Islamic Center and it was examined by their headmaster, who is a teacher of Arabic/Quran/calligraphy. According to him, the script is quite crude and unsophisticated ( nothing beats Persian fake signatures of Assadullah ), and the inscription is "broken" in the middle: It is "1" on the left, crudely embellished "Ali" in the middle (GOOD JOB ALEX!!!) and "12" on the right. According to him, one numeral at the beginning is missing as was often the case in Arabic writings; the full date must be read as either 1112 or 1012. It sounds too good to be true: either 1603 or 1700 would make it the oldest dated Caucasian Kindjal blade known to man and beast!!! I shall look for more Middle Eastern linguists ; now I am REALLY!!! intrigued