An Analysis of a Šamšir (Sword) in the Malek Library Museum in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The following article analyzes a classical highly-curved Persian šamšir (sword) that is kept in the Malek LibraryMuseum in Tehran, Iran. The blade is highly-curved, has a wedge shape, and a flat fuller. However, the typical styleof most highly-curved Persian sword blades has no fullers. The blade is made of patterned crucible steel (pulād-egŏhardār). Persian patterned crucible steel was considered one of the best types of steel not only in Iran but alsoin other countries. Based on the pattern and visisble structures of the surface of the blade, patterned crucible steelwas classified into different categories. The crucible steel pattern on this example is pulād-e jŏhardār-e xati thatmeans “lined watered steel. The blade has a gold-overlaid maker’s mark of Assadollāh Isfahāni and also carriesthe name of Šāh Abbās. These are integrated in four gold-overlaid inscriptions on the obverse side of the blade.The upper cartouche reads: Al-Soltān Šāh Abbās (the ruler Šāh Abbās), the upper middle cartouche is a bodduh(a magic square), the lower middle cartouche reads: Amal-e Assadollāh (the work of Assadollāh), and the lowercartouche reads: Isfahāni. The inscriptions seem to be later additions to the blade. The crossguard is made ofpatterned crucible steel and pierced in floral and geometric designs on both sides. The scabbard chape is made ofsteel. The handle scales are made of bone. The wooden scabbard is a new replacement covered with new leather.The general dimensions of the saber follow many historical examples.

Keywords

• shamshir
• šamšir
• sword
• saber
• crucible steel
• steel pattern
• handguard
• maker’s mark
• assadollāh isfahāni