Something New From Nepal

[fourfive8]

@WebleyGreene455,

Kindjals eh? Here are three from different areas. Got two Georgian kindjals directly from a fellow in Georgia. Used a couple of different courier services across to Germany then handed off to international post. 10 days--2 wks IIRC for delivery here in US. Now... who knows the fate of such shipments?

In group pic top to bottom: Persia/Qajar, Ottoman, Caucasus/Georgian

Close up of Qajar Persian handle and ricasso. Forest scenes with royalty (King & Queen?) Diagnostic features of Qajar dynasty

Close up of Ottoman kindjal w/ horn handle slabs and engraved rivet covers. 1821 date engraved on blade (in Arabic)

Close up of Georgian handle w/ engraving and niello

Close up of Georgian scabbard w/ filigree and niello. Has worn Cyrillic engraving on back side of scabbard- possibly owner's name and/or presentation message?

 

[WebleyGreene455]

@WebleyGreene455,

Kindjals eh? Here are three from different areas. Got two Georgian kindjals directly from a fellow in Georgia. Used a couple of different courier services across to Germany then handed off to international post. 10 days--2 wks IIRC for delivery here in US. Now... who knows the fate of such shipments?

In group pic top to bottom: Persia/Qajar, Ottoman, Caucasus/Georgian

Close up of Qajar Persian handle and ricasso. Forest scenes with royalty (King & Queen?) Diagnostic features of Qajar dynasty

Close up of Ottoman kindjal w/ horn handle slabs and engraved rivet covers. 1821 date engraved on blade (in Arabic)

Close up of Georgian handle w/ engraving and niello

Close up of Georgian scabbard w/ filigree and niello. Has worn Cyrillic engraving on back side of scabbard- possibly owner's name and/or presentation message?

View attachment 442397
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Very nice indeed. The last picture, I think it's some form of Georgian script instead of Cyrillic, or the written form of some Turkic language. But I couldn't say for sure.

I love the blade decoration on the first one. I'm a sucker for work like that.

 

[fourfive8]

@WebleyGreene455,
Sorry for the confusion about the Cyrillic inscription. First pic, as posted in previous post, shows what I believe is only decorative niello indicated by the arrows.

I was referring to what I believe is a worn and mostly unreadable, possibly Cyrillic, inscription within a panel on the reverse side of the other, slightly smaller Georgian kindjal. Pics show the location of the panel. I enhanced the photo as much as possible. It is very worn, probably due to its location on the underside (rub side) of the scabbard. Looks like a commemoration or similar to me. Maybe someone fluent in Cyrillic could translate some part of it ??

Also, I referred to an 1821 dated Ottoman kindjal in a previous post. Here is a pic of that arabic date inscription on that blade.

I'll try to explain the process for converting Arabic date to Georgian date.
First translate the Arabic date number. The above translates to 1236.
Multiply 1236 by .97. That equals 1199. Add 622 to 1199. That equals 1821.
1821 is the approximate Georgian date.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

@WebleyGreene455,
Sorry for the confusion about the Cyrillic inscription. First pic, as posted in previous post, shows what I believe is only decorative niello indicated by the arrows.
View attachment 442586

I was referring to what I believe is a worn and mostly unreadable, possibly Cyrillic, inscription within a panel on the reverse side of the other, slightly smaller Georgian kindjal. Pics show the location of the panel. I enhanced the photo as much as possible. It is very worn, probably due to its location on the underside (rub side) of the scabbard. Looks like a commemoration or similar to me. Maybe someone fluent in Cyrillic could translate some part of it ??

View attachment 442587
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Also, I referred to an 1821 dated Ottoman kindjal in a previous post. Here is a pic of that arabic date inscription on that blade.
View attachment 442592

I'll try to explain the process for converting Arabic date to Georgian date.
First translate the Arabic date number. The above translates to 1236.
Multiply 1236 by .97. That equals 1199. Add 622 to 1199. That equals 1821.
1821 is the approximate Georgian date.

Haha yes I was mistaken, as I see. However, I still think the inscription is in fact not Cyrillic but some Georgian script. It looks much too cursive and curvy to my eye for it to be Cyrillic. But as you say it's so worn down that it's hard to really see. Perhaps a graphite rubbing would be more legible!

 

[fourfive8]

Agreed, much of it appears to be in cursive script. Beyond that??

 

[fourfive8]

"I'll try to explain the process for converting Arabic date to Georgian date.
First translate the Arabic date number. The above translates to 1236.
Multiply 1236 by .97. That equals 1199. Add 622 to 1199. That equals 1821.
1821 is the approximate Georgian date."

Gack! Lazy proof reading. No such thing as Georgian calendar! Obviously should read Gregorian.

 

[PARA45]

@WebleyGreene455,

How difficult/easy was it to order your knife? Did you pay with credit card, check? Any additional information is greatly appreciated.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

@WebleyGreene455,

How difficult/easy was it to order your knife? Did you pay with credit card, check? Any additional information is greatly appreciated.

Fairly easy for me. Went back and forth a bit with the custom shop on what I wanted, they seemed quite helpful about everything. I kept my knife traditional but based on the custom gallery, they've done some outlandish stuff. Even a Klingon mek'leth! So I think I could adequately convey how I wanted a khanjar done, for example. Their method of payment is a bank transfer, I believe, so I used a debit card for that.

 

[PARA45]

Fairly easy for me. Went back and forth a bit with the custom shop on what I wanted, they seemed quite helpful about everything. I kept my knife traditional but based on the custom gallery, they've done some outlandish stuff. Even a Klingon mek'leth! So I think I could adequately convey how I wanted a khanjar done, for example. Their method of payment is a bank transfer, I believe, so I used a debit card for that.

Thank you! I'd like to order one someday.

 

[fourfive8]

Since this is a general area for historic, hand-forged blades, I'll take liberty to throw this in. Some of the most informative, understandable and well done videos on historic blade forging, IMO, is done by Niels Provos. If interested simply google search his videos. I do not know him- this is a completely unsolicited plug.

 

[nztimb]

Since this is a general area for historic, hand-forged blades, I'll take liberty to throw this in. Some of the most informative, understandable and well done videos on historic blade forging, IMO, is done by Niels Provos. If interested simply google search his videos. I do not know him- this is a completely unsolicited plug.

Neils is on a knifemaking forum I am on and his videos are very much apprecited by the forum members.

 

[fourfive8]

He did this one a few years ago. The skill is particularly impressive to me. After several attempts, he makes a decent Wootz crucible ingot and forges it into a Seax blade. Then puts together a finished knife.

 

[nztimb]

He did this one a few years ago. The skill is particularly impressive to me. After several attempts, he makes a decent Wootz crucible ingot and forges it into a Seax blade. Then puts together a finished knife.

Yes a very skilled bladesmith. I have watched almost all of his videos either on the other forum or through being subscribed to his channel

 

[WebleyGreene455]

My sword arrived today. Unfortunately I can't post photos tonight but I'll do my best to get some tomorrow.

 

[VertigoBE]

My sword arrived today. Unfortunately I can't post photos tonight but I'll do my best to get some tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing some pics!

 

[fourfive8]

Just kidding
I too am looking forward to pics of your new addition!

In the meantime, here's one of my fancier "blades". An Ottoman yataghan. Possibly late 18th century to about turn of the century during the reign of Sultan Solim III. The Tugra with salutation is difficult to read (for me) and the Arabic date is also somewhat distorted. Best I can do is 1800 +/- a few years.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

View attachment 444484
Just kidding
I too am looking forward to pics of your new addition!

In the meantime, here's one of my fancier "blades". An Ottoman yataghan. Possibly late 18th century to about turn of the century during the reign of Sultan Solim III. The Tugra with salutation is difficult to read (for me) and the Arabic date is also somewhat distorted. Best I can do is 1800 +/- a few years.

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Regrettably, they'll be a little late. Hard to get good lighting and my phone's camera isn't the best.

A yataghan is also one I'd like to have. Looked at some nice ones in Turkey many years ago but bringing them back to the USA was too much of a hassle at the time. By the by, would you mind maybe looking at some kindjals I've found and offering your opinion on them? I can PM you the links.

 

[fourfive8]

Sure no problem, glad to. Not an expert by any stretch. I use a lot of reference material. I can give an opinion that is worth as much as any opinion. One of the Civil War dealers, collectors I know has a really good saying about old collectibles and antiques... "all the real experts have been dead for a long time".

After all, the people of 100 or more years ago are no longer around and have been gone for a long time. The Tugra pictured above, like most of them are, is so stylized, I have no hope of 100% accuracy of interpretation. I think it is from the reign of Selim III but unless fluent in recognizing those subtleties of style... only a decent guess.

 

[WebleyGreene455]

Sure no problem, glad to. Not an expert by any stretch. I use a lot of reference material. I can give an opinion that is worth as much as any opinion. One of the Civil War dealers, collectors I know has a really good saying about old collectibles and antiques... "all the real experts have been dead for a long time".

After all, the people of 100 or more years ago are no longer around and have been gone for a long time. The Tugra pictured above, like most of them are, is so stylized, I have no hope of 100% accuracy of interpretation. I think it is from the reign of Selim III but unless fluent in recognizing those subtleties of style... only a decent guess.

Apparently I can't PM you?

As for the yataghan, I can't read a lick of Arabic, stylized or not! So your guess is better than mine!

 

[emiliah]

Received this in the post today, all the way from Kathmandu and made to my request:
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It's a slightly-modified version of a 19th-century military-issue khukuri, one of the first standardised patterns issued to soldiers and in service from at least the mid-1800s up through WWI.

If anyone can help with a translation of the blessing/prayer on the cloth it came wrapped in, I'd appreciate it. I believe the gist is something to do with eternal good fortune, happiness, and auspiciousness based on the rough translation I was able to make.
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~~W.G.455

Such a beautiful blade! congrats