Details from Plate XV of Lord Egerton's Indian and Oriental Armor (1896). It is No. 757, described as a "shamshir" with a Damascus blade, a buffalo horn handle, a gold frame and a scabbard described as blue velvet with gold Damascus fasteners. Below (and inverted in this image) is No. 659, attributed to Peshawur, described as "shamsher" and marked as having a Khorassan blade and a hilt of steel coated with ivory and damascus gold, and a sheath of embossed leather.
Article translated from Vikingsword source
Shamshir, meaning "curved like the claw of a tiger," describes a deeply curved and continuously tapering tip of a curved saber typical of Persia (Iran), Mughal India, and the neighboring Arab world since the mid-16th century.
This essay will be based on the practice of Haider (1991). Sabers with blades of this shape will be classified as shamshirs, regardless of whether the handle is Persian, Indo-Muslim or Arabic, in contrast to the more common practice of classifying such blades with a handle in the Indo-Muslim style as talwars. (Haider defines a talwar as curved sabers of various shapes, usually with an Indo-Muslim style hilt, with blades usually wider than a shamshir, often not tapering evenly and often involving a rikasso or an unsharpened area adjacent to the hilt. While Pant defines a talwar as a sabre with an Indo-Muslim hilt, for example (#3 below.)
Given that Shamshir-shaped blades of Persian and Indian production were widely sold and could be interchanged with locally produced handles throughout the Middle Eastern Islamic world. Haider's approach seems justified, as the Persians also adopted swords and used them until the use of sabers was abolished, in the 20th century.
Example 1. A very worn and often converted Shamshir of Persian form, probably of the 18th or 19th century. The blade is made of *wutz (see transcript below) or "real Damascus" steel, with a small pattern that is very clearly visible on the blade, which indicates that it has been bent and clamped. The knot of the guard and the cap of the pommel are made of bronze, on which the remains of gilding are very clearly visible. The handle consists of two blocks of yellowed ivory, which have a rounded square cross-section in the protection area, which includes the reflection of the tongues and an increased thickness towards the onion lid. Stripes of gilded bronze, not visible in the photographs, cover the gap between the ivory semi-grips where the shank is located. It is believed that the sabre was brought from Saudi Arabia by an oilman. Total length: 95 cm (37.2 in); Blade length: 81 cm (31.8 in).
*Wootz steel, also known as "Seric" steel, is a crucible steel, (Indian cast bulat) characterized by a strip pattern and a high carbon content. These strips are formed by sheets of microscopic carbides inside the released martensitic or perlite matrix in steels with a higher carbon content or strips of ferrite and perlite in steels with a low carbon content. It was a pioneering steel alloy invented in South India (Tamil Nadu) in the mid-1st millennium BC and exported worldwide.
Crucible steels such as Wootz steel and Damascus steel exhibit a unique strip pattern due to the mixed alloys of ferrite and cementite in the steel.
Modern illustrations most often show that these sabers are worn in a sheath, suspended horizontally diagonally and pointed down, on the left side of the owner. Although deeply curved blades are clearly adapted for a long blow at considerable cost compared to the possibility of a stabbing blow, it is known that these sabers were worn by both foot warriors and horsemen.
Shamshirs are generally considered the best to use for close-range horse fighting. This use is confirmed by illustrations and writings of the time. Rawson believes that interestingly, these sabers could well have been used more as a hunting weapon for "elegantly hardening animals on horseback" than as a combat weapon.
Example 2. Shamshir is of persian form, probably of the 18th or 19th century. You can't see any trace of the pattern on this blade. The cross is made of iron, on which the remains of gilding are visible.
The girth consists of two bony cheeks, which are probably later replacements because the cheeks are thicker than the width of the girth with the guard. The details of the D-pad with a good patina, which are not visible in the photos, close the gap between the bony cheeks where the shank lies. Total length: 94.5 cm (37 in); Blade length: 81 cm (31.8 in).
The curved blades of the saber reach a maximum degree of curvature at about 50-60% of the length of the blade from the crosshairs. The widest part of the blade is at the junction with the handle. From this point to the tip, the width of the blade narrows, both in width and thickness, reaching the maximum degree of narrowing. The underside of the blades, if the sabre is in good condition, is usually flat, but slightly twisted (become convex) towards the edge and back of the handle. The back of the handle is usually slightly rounded (convex). Indian blades may have a rikasso (or hajana), which is the length of an unsharpened blade at the base adjacent to the shank. This feature is more often associated with talwar blades rather than shamshir shapes. Shamshir blades are usually made of *vutza (Indian cast bulat) or "real Damascus" steel, which is discussed in detail in another essay.
Shamshir inscriptions true "Damascus" steel or wootz- (Indian cast bulat).
a) is a dagger blade that was formed from a felled shamshir blade. A cartouche forming the bottom of the gold-encrusted inscription "Amal Kalb Ali" and translated as "the work of Kalba Ali". The upper part of the inscription looks like "Abbas Bandeh Shah and Velayat" and refers to the Shah. "Abbas, servant of the Lord of Peace." The inscription is dated 181 or 1181 AH, which corresponds to 1767-1768 AD, almost two centuries after the reign of Shah Abbas of the Safavid dynasty (1588-1629) and the life of Kalb Ali or his father Assadullah of Isfahan. In the upper left corner is a square of poor souls (or troubles) consisting of 4 parts, each with a character who is a characteristic talisman.
(b) from example 3 below; is performed in a completely different way, with a series of very small strokes and can be translated as "the work of Kalb Ali, son of Asadullah of Isfahan".
(c) Taken from example 4 below, inlaid in gold and can be translated as "the work of Asadullah of Isfahan".
We are grateful for the help of Philip Tom and Rand Milam in translating and interpreting these inscriptions.
Shamshir sabre blades often include one or more of the following inscriptions: the name of the creator, the name of the owner, the dedication to the ruler, quotations from the Quran, and talismans. Asadullah (or Asad Allah, Asad Ullah, Asadullah) of Isfahan, the most famous saber blacksmith for the creation of shamshirs, worked during the period of the high rebirth of the Persian Safavid Empire during the time of Shah Abbas, who ruled between 1588 and 1629 AD.
Unfortunately, the details of Assadullah's life are not known. Engraved inscriptions on the blades, stating that this is his work, are very common and have strong differences in the arrangement of inscriptions, in technique and style of performance, in wording and calligraphy. Mayer notes that dates associated with Assadullah range from 811 AH to 1808 CE, and Elgud reports on the blade *Wutz (Indian cast bulat), which is also referred to as the work of Assadullah, but dates back to 1921 AD. The time span is about 500 years!
Another famous sword master of the same time and place was Assadullah's son Kalb Ali (or Cooley Ali), who was prescribed an equally changeable and large number of inscriptions. From the large number of engraved blades and from the differences in styles, it becomes apparent that blades cannot be solely the work of a named blacksmith or even a specific workshop. Given the differences in the dates and rulers, it seems unlikely that these inscriptions were actually made in order to deceive modern buyers, so these inscriptions, in fact, could have been conceived as talismans. What kind of blades with the signatures of these and other famous blacksmiths are actually their work is now completely unknown.
Rawson advises to assess how much the blade bears the stigma of a great master, but this does not allow to unequivocally indicate authorship. Based on a broad heavy blade with a relief, intricate pattern *wutz (Indian cast bulat), Figel attributed several swords from his collection to Asadullah, as inscribed. However, the cataloger of his collection during the auction, for obvious reasons, was more cautious.
Example 3. Shamshir with a typical Indo-Muslim delishah shaped handle, probably 18th century. Many authorities classify this as a talwaron the basis of this handle, made of iron covered with a thick layer of yellow gold. Behind the stripes of the cross covering the base of the blade, you can see a fake rikasso in the form of two plates with embossed and intertwined gilded floral ornament. The blade is made of *wootz steel (Indian cast bulat) and has an Arabic inscription inscribed with gold on its spine, probably a religious proclamation or prayer. A cartouche with an inscription in the form of a series of small perforated signs is presented and illustrated and further described above as b. Total length: 92.5 cm (36.2 in); Blade length: 80 cm (31.2 in).
The handles, although they have common characteristics, also have different variations of shapes and styles of decor. For example, the edges of the cross can be in different styles:
medium length with rounded, hemispherical edges in the classical Persian style (see No. 1 and No. 2 above)
short and pineal, in Indo-Muslim variants (as in #3 above)
longer and elongated in the Arabic and Turkish examples (see No. 4 below). The cross has a convex shape and is thickened in the center. Languettes* exit into the D-pad on one side and end at the tip of the blade.
In some swords, the extension of the guard (the so-called crosshair, see figure below under #3), located on both planes of the blade, is designed to fit snugly to the mouth of the scabbard and prevent accidental exposure of the scabbard.
Lancets come in different sizes. More delicate and fragile in Persian patterns, and stronger in Indian patterns.
In addition to the fact that languettes help to correctly place the saber in the sheath, it is also believed that langetes help to catch and break the enemy's sabre. But that seems unlikely with thinner handles made of softer metals.
For a typical Indo-Muslim handle, the metal handle is an integral part of the cross shield. However, in specimens that have come under Persian influence, there are two symmetrical lancets embedded in the inlet area of the handle.
The metal handle is an integral part of the cross shield of a typical Indo-Muslim handle, however, in varieties more susceptible to Persian influence, the symmetrical reflection of the crosshair extends into the entrance area on the handle and can be formed from two cheeks or blocks of material, such as ivory, bone or horn, which are riveted in place.
Indo-Muslim handles can be fully attached to the shank with resin, while in Persian samples the assembly of the cross is attached not only with resin, but also with rivets. Shanks increase the length of the handle, but they are also shorter. In Arabic samples, they wrapped a part of the handle with wire, and in Indian samples you will not find this.
The tradition of winding with wire most likely arose from considerations of strengthening the handle. Since the handle was not very reliable. In sabers of the classical Persian form, the handle, at the end of the girth zone with the hand, rotates approximately at right angles to its axis in the direction of the blade.
This short extension is covered with a pommel cap, usually decorated or complementing the D-pad assembly style. The angle and length of this pommel may vary. For example, the longer cap of the pommel, rising at a sharper angle, as seen in the example of the Syrian Arabs (#4 below). Or in the form of a convex extension, as on the Turkish samples. In some Indian examples, the guard begins at the cross and ends at the pommel. A similar function can be performed by a chain in Arabic samples. The handle can end in the head of the beast on more luxurious specimens. Such sumptuous designs can take unique forms beyond this discussion of the basic characteristics of working-class weapons.
Example 4. Shamshir or Arabic Saif of the Syrian style, fasteners probably of the 19th century; the blade may have been created earlier than the 19th century. The blade is made of wutz (bulat) or "true Damascus" steel, with a bold moderately complex pattern and has the gold-encrusted inscription shown above as an example.
The crossbar and cap of the pommel are made of good silver and engraved foliage. The handle is made of horn, generally thicker than shown in the figure.
Four silver stripes opposite each other and at right angles to each other cover most of the handle, and the exposed areas of the dark brown horn have small silver and brass inserts. The end of the handle rotates at an acute angle to the edge, forming pommels.
A silver bolt in the shape of a tear is attached to the tip of the cap with a loop. The sheath in this example is made in the Turkish style, in which the sheath is cut from the mouth along the butt by about 12.5 cm (5 inches) so that a sharply curved blade can be removed. Total length: 91 cm (35.7 in); Blade length: 76.5 cm (30 in).
Although the bend of the blade is mostly parabolic, the edge of the bend ending with the handle is a few inches longer, and the blade straightens as it approaches the handle.
This asymmetry is a problem for the scabbard manufacturer. The cheeks of Persian and Indian scabbards are somewhat wider than their blades. The blades at its widest point make up 70 to 75% of the inner width of the mouth of the scabbard. When the blade is inserted for the first time, the blade tip will glide smoothly along the back edge of the scabbard. However, after the blade is inserted three-quarters, the cutting edge will begin to shift to the opposite side of the mouth of the scabbard.
Turkish sheaths and some Arabic sheaths are narrower, and a slot running from the end of the mouth of the scabbard for a short distance is used to eliminate asymmetry. Some of these scabbards even have rain protection to cover an otherwise open area when the blade is fully inserted. The lining of Shamshir scabbards is often made of wood, and the coating can be made of leather, velvet, metal or a combination of both.
Fragment of a lithograph entitled "Meerz Fiese, Usbeg Elchi, or the Ambassador"; from an original drawing by James Rattney, 1848
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Shamshir: Swords of Persia, the Mughals and the Arab World
Details from Plate XV of Lord Egerton's Indian and Oriental Armor (1896). It is No. 757, described as a "shamshir" with a Damascus blade, a buffalo horn handle, a gold frame and a scabbard described as blue velvet with gold Damascus fasteners. Below (and inverted in this image) is No. 659, attributed to Peshawur, described as "shamsher" and marked as having a Khorassan blade and a hilt of steel coated with ivory and damascus gold, and a sheath of embossed leather.
Shamshir, meaning "curved like the claw of a tiger," describes a deeply curved and continuously tapering tip of a curved saber typical of Persia (Iran), Mughal India, and the neighboring Arab world since the mid-16th century.
This essay will be based on the practice of Haider (1991). Sabers with blades of this shape will be classified as shamshirs, regardless of whether the handle is Persian, Indo-Muslim or Arabic, in contrast to the more common practice of classifying such blades with a handle in the Indo-Muslim style as talwars. (Haider defines a talwar as curved sabers of various shapes, usually with an Indo-Muslim style hilt, with blades usually wider than a shamshir, often not tapering evenly and often involving a rikasso or an unsharpened area adjacent to the hilt. While Pant defines a talwar as a sabre with an Indo-Muslim hilt, for example (#3 below.)
Given that Shamshir-shaped blades of Persian and Indian production were widely sold and could be interchanged with locally produced handles throughout the Middle Eastern Islamic world. Haider's approach seems justified, as the Persians also adopted swords and used them until the use of sabers was abolished, in the 20th century.
Example 1. A very worn and often converted Shamshir of Persian form, probably of the 18th or 19th century. The blade is made of *wutz (see transcript below) or "real Damascus" steel, with a small pattern that is very clearly visible on the blade, which indicates that it has been bent and clamped. The knot of the guard and the cap of the pommel are made of bronze, on which the remains of gilding are very clearly visible. The handle consists of two blocks of yellowed ivory, which have a rounded square cross-section in the protection area, which includes the reflection of the tongues and an increased thickness towards the onion lid. Stripes of gilded bronze, not visible in the photographs, cover the gap between the ivory semi-grips where the shank is located. It is believed that the sabre was brought from Saudi Arabia by an oilman. Total length: 95 cm (37.2 in); Blade length: 81 cm (31.8 in).
*Wootz steel, also known as "Seric" steel, is a crucible steel, (Indian cast bulat) characterized by a strip pattern and a high carbon content. These strips are formed by sheets of microscopic carbides inside the released martensitic or perlite matrix in steels with a higher carbon content or strips of ferrite and perlite in steels with a low carbon content. It was a pioneering steel alloy invented in South India (Tamil Nadu) in the mid-1st millennium BC and exported worldwide.
Modern illustrations most often show that these sabers are worn in a sheath, suspended horizontally diagonally and pointed down, on the left side of the owner. Although deeply curved blades are clearly adapted for a long blow at considerable cost compared to the possibility of a stabbing blow, it is known that these sabers were worn by both foot warriors and horsemen.
Shamshirs are generally considered the best to use for close-range horse fighting. This use is confirmed by illustrations and writings of the time. Rawson believes that interestingly, these sabers could well have been used more as a hunting weapon for "elegantly hardening animals on horseback" than as a combat weapon.
Example 2. Shamshir is of persian form, probably of the 18th or 19th century. You can't see any trace of the pattern on this blade. The cross is made of iron, on which the remains of gilding are visible.
The girth consists of two bony cheeks, which are probably later replacements because the cheeks are thicker than the width of the girth with the guard. The details of the D-pad with a good patina, which are not visible in the photos, close the gap between the bony cheeks where the shank lies. Total length: 94.5 cm (37 in); Blade length: 81 cm (31.8 in).
The curved blades of the saber reach a maximum degree of curvature at about 50-60% of the length of the blade from the crosshairs. The widest part of the blade is at the junction with the handle. From this point to the tip, the width of the blade narrows, both in width and thickness, reaching the maximum degree of narrowing. The underside of the blades, if the sabre is in good condition, is usually flat, but slightly twisted (become convex) towards the edge and back of the handle. The back of the handle is usually slightly rounded (convex). Indian blades may have a rikasso (or hajana), which is the length of an unsharpened blade at the base adjacent to the shank. This feature is more often associated with talwar blades rather than shamshir shapes. Shamshir blades are usually made of *vutza (Indian cast bulat) or "real Damascus" steel, which is discussed in detail in another essay.
Shamshir inscriptions true "Damascus" steel or wootz- (Indian cast bulat).
a) is a dagger blade that was formed from a felled shamshir blade. A cartouche forming the bottom of the gold-encrusted inscription "Amal Kalb Ali" and translated as "the work of Kalba Ali". The upper part of the inscription looks like "Abbas Bandeh Shah and Velayat" and refers to the Shah. "Abbas, servant of the Lord of Peace." The inscription is dated 181 or 1181 AH, which corresponds to 1767-1768 AD, almost two centuries after the reign of Shah Abbas of the Safavid dynasty (1588-1629) and the life of Kalb Ali or his father Assadullah of Isfahan. In the upper left corner is a square of poor souls (or troubles) consisting of 4 parts, each with a character who is a characteristic talisman.
(b) from example 3 below; is performed in a completely different way, with a series of very small strokes and can be translated as "the work of Kalb Ali, son of Asadullah of Isfahan".
(c) Taken from example 4 below, inlaid in gold and can be translated as "the work of Asadullah of Isfahan".
We are grateful for the help of Philip Tom and Rand Milam in translating and interpreting these inscriptions.
Shamshir sabre blades often include one or more of the following inscriptions: the name of the creator, the name of the owner, the dedication to the ruler, quotations from the Quran, and talismans. Asadullah (or Asad Allah, Asad Ullah, Asadullah) of Isfahan, the most famous saber blacksmith for the creation of shamshirs, worked during the period of the high rebirth of the Persian Safavid Empire during the time of Shah Abbas, who ruled between 1588 and 1629 AD.
Unfortunately, the details of Assadullah's life are not known. Engraved inscriptions on the blades, stating that this is his work, are very common and have strong differences in the arrangement of inscriptions, in technique and style of performance, in wording and calligraphy. Mayer notes that dates associated with Assadullah range from 811 AH to 1808 CE, and Elgud reports on the blade *Wutz (Indian cast bulat), which is also referred to as the work of Assadullah, but dates back to 1921 AD. The time span is about 500 years!
Another famous sword master of the same time and place was Assadullah's son Kalb Ali (or Cooley Ali), who was prescribed an equally changeable and large number of inscriptions. From the large number of engraved blades and from the differences in styles, it becomes apparent that blades cannot be solely the work of a named blacksmith or even a specific workshop. Given the differences in the dates and rulers, it seems unlikely that these inscriptions were actually made in order to deceive modern buyers, so these inscriptions, in fact, could have been conceived as talismans. What kind of blades with the signatures of these and other famous blacksmiths are actually their work is now completely unknown.
Rawson advises to assess how much the blade bears the stigma of a great master, but this does not allow to unequivocally indicate authorship. Based on a broad heavy blade with a relief, intricate pattern *wutz (Indian cast bulat), Figel attributed several swords from his collection to Asadullah, as inscribed. However, the cataloger of his collection during the auction, for obvious reasons, was more cautious.
Example 3. Shamshir with a typical Indo-Muslim delishah shaped handle, probably 18th century. Many authorities classify this as a talwar on the basis of this handle, made of iron covered with a thick layer of yellow gold. Behind the stripes of the cross covering the base of the blade, you can see a fake rikasso in the form of two plates with embossed and intertwined gilded floral ornament. The blade is made of *wootz steel (Indian cast bulat) and has an Arabic inscription inscribed with gold on its spine, probably a religious proclamation or prayer. A cartouche with an inscription in the form of a series of small perforated signs is presented and illustrated and further described above as b. Total length: 92.5 cm (36.2 in); Blade length: 80 cm (31.2 in).
The handles, although they have common characteristics, also have different variations of shapes and styles of decor. For example, the edges of the cross can be in different styles:
In some swords, the extension of the guard (the so-called crosshair, see figure below under #3), located on both planes of the blade, is designed to fit snugly to the mouth of the scabbard and prevent accidental exposure of the scabbard.
Lancets come in different sizes. More delicate and fragile in Persian patterns, and stronger in Indian patterns.
In addition to the fact that languettes help to correctly place the saber in the sheath, it is also believed that langetes help to catch and break the enemy's sabre. But that seems unlikely with thinner handles made of softer metals.
For a typical Indo-Muslim handle, the metal handle is an integral part of the cross shield. However, in specimens that have come under Persian influence, there are two symmetrical lancets embedded in the inlet area of the handle.
The metal handle is an integral part of the cross shield of a typical Indo-Muslim handle, however, in varieties more susceptible to Persian influence, the symmetrical reflection of the crosshair extends into the entrance area on the handle and can be formed from two cheeks or blocks of material, such as ivory, bone or horn, which are riveted in place.
Indo-Muslim handles can be fully attached to the shank with resin, while in Persian samples the assembly of the cross is attached not only with resin, but also with rivets. Shanks increase the length of the handle, but they are also shorter. In Arabic samples, they wrapped a part of the handle with wire, and in Indian samples you will not find this.
The tradition of winding with wire most likely arose from considerations of strengthening the handle. Since the handle was not very reliable. In sabers of the classical Persian form, the handle, at the end of the girth zone with the hand, rotates approximately at right angles to its axis in the direction of the blade.
This short extension is covered with a pommel cap, usually decorated or complementing the D-pad assembly style. The angle and length of this pommel may vary. For example, the longer cap of the pommel, rising at a sharper angle, as seen in the example of the Syrian Arabs (#4 below). Or in the form of a convex extension, as on the Turkish samples. In some Indian examples, the guard begins at the cross and ends at the pommel. A similar function can be performed by a chain in Arabic samples. The handle can end in the head of the beast on more luxurious specimens. Such sumptuous designs can take unique forms beyond this discussion of the basic characteristics of working-class weapons.
Example 4. Shamshir or Arabic Saif of the Syrian style, fasteners probably of the 19th century; the blade may have been created earlier than the 19th century. The blade is made of wutz (bulat) or "true Damascus" steel, with a bold moderately complex pattern and has the gold-encrusted inscription shown above as an example.
The crossbar and cap of the pommel are made of good silver and engraved foliage. The handle is made of horn, generally thicker than shown in the figure.
Four silver stripes opposite each other and at right angles to each other cover most of the handle, and the exposed areas of the dark brown horn have small silver and brass inserts. The end of the handle rotates at an acute angle to the edge, forming pommels.
A silver bolt in the shape of a tear is attached to the tip of the cap with a loop. The sheath in this example is made in the Turkish style, in which the sheath is cut from the mouth along the butt by about 12.5 cm (5 inches) so that a sharply curved blade can be removed. Total length: 91 cm (35.7 in); Blade length: 76.5 cm (30 in).
Although the bend of the blade is mostly parabolic, the edge of the bend ending with the handle is a few inches longer, and the blade straightens as it approaches the handle.
This asymmetry is a problem for the scabbard manufacturer. The cheeks of Persian and Indian scabbards are somewhat wider than their blades. The blades at its widest point make up 70 to 75% of the inner width of the mouth of the scabbard. When the blade is inserted for the first time, the blade tip will glide smoothly along the back edge of the scabbard. However, after the blade is inserted three-quarters, the cutting edge will begin to shift to the opposite side of the mouth of the scabbard.
Turkish sheaths and some Arabic sheaths are narrower, and a slot running from the end of the mouth of the scabbard for a short distance is used to eliminate asymmetry. Some of these scabbards even have rain protection to cover an otherwise open area when the blade is fully inserted. The lining of Shamshir scabbards is often made of wood, and the coating can be made of leather, velvet, metal or a combination of both.
Fragment of a lithograph entitled "Meerz Fiese, Usbeg Elchi, or the Ambassador"; from an original drawing by James Rattney, 1848
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