‘MUHAMMAD’S LADDER’ SHAMSHIR WITH GOLD MOUNTS

Origin: Persia
Date: 18^th century

Materials: Kirk Narduban wootz, horn, gold and hide

Length: 98cm without scabbard (83cm blade/15cm hilt).

101cm including scabbard.

The Shamshir presents the traditional style hilt; of two piece horn which has a matte style finish. The pommel holds the key bolster with two smaller ones at the centre. Like the T section, or Quillon block, the bolster is mounted in gold. The gold Quillon block provides a fantastic aesthetic appeal to the sword as it is bright in the face of the blade.

The blade of this Shamshir is of Persian manufacture. The wootz pattern is sought after and extremely exciting. The silver and grey distortions are prominent on the dark background which results in the Kirk Narduban pattern visibility on both sides of the blade. There are several linear, mechanically created, distortions within the crystalline structure of the wootz. This is referred to as a Laddered Blade or Kirk Narduban, and even Muhammad’s Ladder Wootz. Figiel (1991, p70) states that using a sword that contained such a variation in holy war, would lead to paradise. This also explains the ‘ladder’ effect through the blade (often forty steps), which represents the ascent to heaven. On the blade there are two etched cartouches. One contains numbers, in what seems to be Urdu. It reads along the lines of:

'6548’

This does not correspond with any date and therefore is most likely to represent an armoury inventory number. The other cartouche is difficult to decipher as it is etched into the blade. However we were able to make out some of it. One of the words is

‘Saaz’[?]

Saaz is an Arabic word, which means ‘maker’, and in this case is referring to the creator of the sword. The final word may therefore contain the name or initials of the blade smith.

Finally, the original sheath is mounted with two large gold mounts. The gold mounts are stamped which would seem to be an inventory indication.

Overall a fine and complete Persian Shamshir with a high quality ‘Muhammad’s ladder’ Wootz blade and original scabbard with gold mounts. This Shamshir is a rare example of high quality blades; which are difficult to find on the Arms and Armour market.

Further readings:

1998 catalogue of Leo S. Figiel, Butterfields & Butterfields – Dr. Leo S. Figiel Collection of Mughal Arms

Leo S. Figiel. (1991) On Damascus Steel. Atlantis Arts Press

Robert Elgood. Hindu Arms and Rituals: Arms and Armour from India 1400-1865.