Original Ottoman Empire Officer’s Shamshir Sword with Basmala Prayer Gold-Inlaid Blade and African Horn Handle - Mid-18th Century
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is an impressive original Ottoman Empire shamshir, dating from the mid-18th century. It features a deeply curved steel blade extensively decorated with gold-inlaid Arabic inscriptions and talismanic motifs, a dark African horn grip secured by three brass rivets, an etched crossguard, and a leather-covered scabbard specifically constructed to accommodate the unique shape of the blade. We were told by an expert that from the spine of the blade, he could tell it was “Pattern-Welded Damascus”, though we cannot guarantee that is what it is.
The configuration is characteristic of an Ottoman shamshir, a form ultimately derived from Persian curved swords but widely adopted and produced throughout the Ottoman world.
This is a tremendous Ottoman Shamshir / Scimitar sword made with an outstanding gold-inlaid blade and horn handle. The blade fits very well into the correct scabbard with the open channel on the side for the unique curvature of the blade. The blade measures 23 3/4” with outstanding gold inlay on all three sides, with the primary side bearing a gold-inlaid Arabic inscription which we believe to be text of the Basmala or Basmalah. This is an Islamic phrase meaning "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful". This side shows this text within a patterned box with feathers at both ends.
We translated some of the text in the gold inlay on this side, which read as “In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful. Praise be to God, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. There is no other like him. The Basmala is one of the most important phrases in Islam and is frequently recited by Muslims before performing daily activities and religious practices, including prayer, and at the start of verses (āyah) or chapters (surahs) of the Qur'an. This phrase appears frequently on Islamic weapons as a devotional and protective inscription.
There are then small bits of gold inlay along the spine of the blade. The opposite side bears several symbols with Arabic text though we could not translate them. One symbol shows a six-pointed star in a circle, better known as the Seal of Solomon, while another is shaped like a sprouting plant. These inscriptions and symbols certainly have a deeper meaning that will be a great research project for the next owner.
The hilt consists of a gorgeous African Horn grip held in by three brass rivets. The African Horn has a lovely patina with some cracking. There is a very small bit of loss to the horn, but overall it has survived exceedingly well. The crossguard is etched on both sides and on the bottom with floral motifs, although they have faded heavily. The overall length of the Shamshir is 29 ½”.
The blade has been extensively polished giving it a reflective look. There is some moderate edge nicking along the edge of the blade, though it is possible some of these are from sword strikes in battle.
The brass-mounted leather scabbard is in great condition with brass bullion coiling decorating the length of one side. There is one single brass mount which has a fixed loop on both sides for suspension. This mount is a bit loose, likely from leather shrinkage. The scabbard is correctly designed with a channel on one end to accommodate the unique curvature of the blade.
The combination of the deeply curved Ottoman shamshir blade, extensive gold-inlaid Islamic inscriptions, apparent Basmala invocation, talismanic Seal of Solomon, African horn grip, engraved floral crossguard, and purpose-built leather scabbard makes this a particularly strong example of Ottoman Islamic arms. Its extensive polishing and edge nicking are significant condition considerations, while the surviving gold work and symbolic decoration provide unusually rich material for further study of 18th-century Ottoman devotional and talismanic blade ornament.
Specifications:
Overall length: 29 1/2”
Blade length: 23 3/4"
Crossguard length: 6”
Scabbard length: 26 1/4”
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