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3rd November 2021, 10:53 AM | #1 |
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"found somewhere about city of Sudak (Crimean peninsula)"
Another strong argument for the Khazar (or related culture - Eurasian Nomads also called "People of the Steppes") origin! PS: The bending of the tip gave the impression that the sword has double "s-shaped" curvature in the main view. |
3rd November 2021, 01:26 PM | #2 | |
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3rd November 2021, 03:24 PM | #3 |
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This is part of a family of 'cuff' hilted swords common across the Byzantine empire and areas of its influence. The style actually dates back to Samanid period. In later times it can be observed as recently as the 18th century in Omani swords. It was used across a very large area and turns up in everything from medieval Mamluk weapons to early Islamic swords in Syria and Arabia.
Yours conforms broadly to others published in the works by Yotov available online regarding finds in Bulgaria and southern Europe. I would roughly place this in the 10th to 12th centuries. The guard looks like it might be on backwards by the way. I had the pleasure to do a short article on another similar sword from Dr. Lee Jones which you can find here: http://iainnorman.com/articles-2/25 |
3rd November 2021, 03:50 PM | #4 | |
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By the way, regarding the guard, if it was turned upside down, it was a very, very long time ago) |
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3rd November 2021, 04:04 PM | #5 | |
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Its possible the guard is in the correct orientation, I don't have the benefit of the sword in hand, typically the cuff over the guard is the "wider" element while the lower half of the guard is more circular to accommodate the grip. With the level of corrosion its hard to see exactly how much has been lost around the blade. I can send you privately several publications on these if you like. But this is 100 percent what your sword is. The blade was originally straight of course, but obviously the condition and the centuries have distorted it. |
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3rd November 2021, 04:36 PM | #6 |
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3rd November 2021, 07:32 PM | #7 |
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I go along with Iain and his astute reference to the 'cuff' etc.
It seems to me that this resembles a Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) type sword that I saw in a panel of line drawings in a book by Michael Gorelik. In research on the swords of Steppes tribes years ago David Nicolle recommended him, I dont have the book handy so cant recall title. Similar swords to these are in David Nicolle's works, and there are various types of these in similarity. These tribal groups' history is complex but fascinating and it seems were involved in the evolution of the saber. I am wondering if the curious curving of the blade on this one has to do with the ceremonial 'killing' of the sword being placed in burials. Not sure of the extent of this practice in these Steppes contexts. While these swords can in many perspectives be seen as 'Oriental' or 'Asian' they do have aspects that play into European history with respect to the assimilation of these tribes into such populations such as noted in Hungary etc. |
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