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This is amongst the rarest types, with the face of the scabbard and hilt formed of complex silver-gilt filigree work, highlighted with sparsely applied niello inlay. It is from the era of Shamil, the legendary Khan of Daghestan (modern Chechnya), in the northern Caucasus. Shamil surrendered in 1859 after a two-year fight against the Russians and died in Mecca in 1871, having been reasonably decently treated by the Russians in the meantime. This is the background to the modern struggle in Chechnya, formerly an independent Muslim kingdom, now held by Putin's stooge government on account of the 'black gold' under the ground (ie the oil). It is probably from the Daghestan campaign that the Cossacks developed their taste for these amazing knives. This is a classic 12.5-inch watered blade with a Chechen mark in Cyrillic, together with the crescent and two stars. There is a nice arabesque in niello at the top of the scabbard. It would appear to have its original leather belt loop. The scabbard has its original wood linings with red leather fillet on the back. There are two small age splits in the metal at the bottom of the leather fillet and a small one at the scabbard throat. The top rivet on the hilt may be a replacement, but it seems to have been professionally done. The other rivet stands a little proud of the hilt. The weapon would appear, by its size, to have been made for a young man, perhaps a 15-year-old, not yet fully grown, as the hilt is quite small in comparison to most examples for adults. |
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