Impressive Turkish Kilij from late 18th Century. Narrow, sharply curved 32 inches blade of watered (Damascus) steel with beautiful gold koftgari with Islamic script on both sides. There is also a "Kitmir Dog" chiseled on both side of the blade (protector of the seven sleepers in Koran). Iron crossguard also with gold koftgari. Horn grip scales with pierced pommel and applied on either side with iron, gold koftgari decorated button. The iron plate between the grips also decorated with Gold koftgari. Black leather covered scabbard with iron mounts decorated with gold koftgari.
Condition: near excellent. Blade showing wear to the Damascus pattern and has some small darker spots areas but no pitting. Almost all gold koftgari remains. Very good crossguard with some loses to gold. Grip scales with some minor wear. Scabbard with some surface leather losses but all original and nothing replaced. Iron fittings with no dents or damage and most of gold koftgari remains.
Great kilij, excellent addition to any collection.
