Curved Sword attributed to Mehmed II, Ottoman Sultan
- On display at Topkapi Saray Museum, Turkey
- Dated: 1444 - 1446 & 1451 – 1481 (Hijral calendar)
- Dimensions: Overall length: 126.5 cm, blade length: 106cm;
- Culture: Ottoman, Turkish
The longer than normal hilt is covered with two walrus ivory plates attached together with four rivets. Instead of separate metal pommel cal, the ivory has been shaped into a form of a pommel cap. The cruciform quillon block has thick bluff quillons and is decorated with gold inlay.
The blade is single-edges, slightly curved and has a wide back. One wide groove extends from the hilt to the point and a second along the back edge extends as far as the step.
As may gather from its size, this is a ceremonial sword. The original walrus ivory hilt gives us an idea of the form that the hilts took in this period. On the account of the mature aesthetic form of the quillon block and blade, this sword is one of the finest examples of fifteenth century Turkish swords.
Both sides of the blade contain elaborate inscriptions in thuluth inlaid in gold, which reads as follows: “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, who connected the bonds of correct religion with the light of verses and the sensitive lightening swords… Oh God, assist your servants who are striving to strenghern the foundations of religion, the Sultan of Ghazis and the Mujahidim, with the unsheathed sword of God for Jihad, Sultan Muhammad Khan, the son of Sultan Murad Khan, May God make those who approach his sword, the neck of the enemies of the esteemed law… to the extent of God’s care.”
Info source: from the “Islamic Swords and Swordsmiths” book
