Kindjal
Kutaisi, Georgia - Kubachi, Dagestan, Russian Empire (Kutaisi, Georgia - Kubachi, Dagestan, Russian Federation)
Late 19th - Early 20th century
Steel, bone, horn, silver, wood, leather
Blade: 12,7cm
Hilt & Blade: 15,2cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 41,6cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 461

Ex. Rick Stroud (RSWORD): Raleigh, North Carolina, USA(2025)

A fine kindjal sword from the Caucasia Region, specifically Georgia or Dagestan, dating to the late 19th into the very early 20th century. The heavy double- edged steel blade presents a deep offset fuller, spanning nearly 3/4 of the blade's length tapering into an acute point. The famous sword maker, "ABAURAGIM" (АБАУРАГИМ) is stamped into the blade within the front side. The hilt is composed of two scale grips, the front of bone, while the reverse side of lightly grained dark horn. Silver mounts in fine silver niello chased in lush floral scrollwork complimented with a granuled silver filigree band.

The sheath with a wooden interior and covered in black leather. Silver mounts consistent with the hilt of very fine silver niello, chased in floral scrolls, and silver filigree. The reverse side of the locket is proofed with the "84" zolotniki (875/1000 pure silver) stamp for Russian silver purity. Also, a second stamp of either "AV" or "AX" for the silversmith. The original leather belt loop is tied to the suspension ring. The chape is decorated in the same manner of silver niello ending in bound silver filigree wire and a bulbous silver chape.

A very fine kindjal sword with outstanding niello silverwork. The bladesmith Abauragim was a famous sword maker from Dagestan active from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. This kindjal made in the Georgian style, Abauragim worked in the former Kutaisi province in western Georgia in the early 20th century, forging blades for Russian nobility as well as foreign rulers and wealthy customers. The "AV" stamp of the silver mounts may be associated with A. Vasiliev, a St. Petersburg silversmith (active around 1863 - 1868), as the stamp is very similar, but I can not be sure of this. Below is a reference to a silver inkstand with the AV stamp.

[1] https://oriental-arms.com/product/fine-silver-mounted-kindjal-qama-made-by-%d0%b0%d0%b1%d0%b0%d1%83%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b3%d0%b8%d0%bc%d1%8a/ (Abauragim blade example)

[2] https://oriental-arms.com/product/fine-georgian-kindjal-for-the-russian-market-dated/

[3] https://oriental-arms.com/product/kindjal-dagger-collected-in-iran-1944/

[4] https://oriental-arms.com/product/rare-and-unusual-double-sided-qama-dagger-dated-1331-1912/

[5] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=8630

[6] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5506

[7] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4753

[8] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3239

[9] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4772

[10] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-fine-kindjal-230-c-cf24ef3879?objectID=189159422&algIndex=undefined&queryID=4bd7cdad706fe67ad4c753753a9e38b9

[11] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-caucasian-kindjal-dagger-in-silver-mounts-19th--228-c-8bd44e487d?objectID=186103003&algIndex=undefined&queryID=4bd7cdad706fe67ad4c753753a9e38b9

[12] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-south-caucasian-kinzal-1900s-1910s-10057-c-b8442b1b9d?objectID=192596147&algIndex=undefined&queryID=276f97d6fafcb3169b6e4a720b367d22 (Detailed info. on blade)

[13] https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-ottoman-circassian-kindjal-dagger-181-c-50941a187c?objectID=183977509&algIndex=undefined&queryID=7bacfcfca9da0e8c1bdb1033da23b73e

[14] https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25163/lot/120/a-russian-novelty-silver-inkstand-makers-mark-av-possibly-for-a-vasiliev-st-petersburg-1863/ (Possible maker’s stamp)