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| Khanjali (Qama) | |
|---|---|
_with_Sheath_MET_81.1.599ab_001july2014.jpg) Dagestani Kindjal | |
| Type | Dagger |
| Place of origin | Caucasus |
| Specifications | |
| Blade length | approx. 40–50 cm (16–20 in) |
| Blade type | Straight Double edged, Curved Single edged (Bebut) |
| Hilt type | Single-handed swept |
| Scabbard/sheath | wood and leather, brass, gold and silver. |
Khanjali (Abkhaz: Аҩҽы/Кама;Adyghe: къамэ;Avar: Ханжар;Azerbaijani: Qəmə/xəncər;Chechen: шаьлта;Dargin: ханжал,Georgian: ხანჯალი;Ingush: шалта;Lezgin: Гапур;Ossetian: Хъама)[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] also known as akindjal, is a double-edgeddagger used in theCaucasus.[8][9] The shape of the weapon is similar to that of the ancient Romangladius, the Scottishdirk and the ancient Greekxiphos.[10][11] Inhabitants ofCaucasus have used the Kindjal as a secondary weapon since the 18th century.
Such daggers and their scabbards are often highly engraved with gold or silver designs, and sometimes include embedded gemstones. The scabbard will generally feature a ballpoint extension on the tip, and the handle is usually made of materials such as wood or ivory.
The name of the kindjal dagger came into use from Persia[citation needed];[12] (See alsokhanjar andqama.)
Compare the standard Russian-language word (probably Turkic-sourced[15])for "dagger":Russian:кинжал (kinzhal).
As theKabardian linguist Shagirov writes, the name of the dagger came from theTurkic languages (see, for example,Turkishkama "dagger",Karachay-Balkarqama "dagger").[16]
The Kindjal has its origins in the late 18th century. Although similar straight daggers were used by Caucasians in ancient times, they eventually lost their popularity and gave way to curved daggers, similar to ones found in the Ottoman Empire and Persia. Based on archeological evidence, the Kindjal itself dates from roughly the late 18th century.[17] By the mid-19th century, it had achieved wide popularity and was carried by almost everyone in most parts of the Caucasus.
In the 19th century, the production of Kindjals was at a high level inTranscaucasia.Tbilisi was especially distinguished and well-known, from where such tools were supplied to other mountain peoples of the Caucasus, as well as Iran and other eastern regions countries.[clarification needed]. As Tbilisi was the capital ofCaucasus at that time, both the client and the master were able to gather in one place. In Tbilisi, the craft was characterized by a division of labor based on ethnic lines. Most Tbilisi Kindjals were fitted and decorated by ethnic Armenian jewelers, while the blades themselves mostly bear Muslim signatures, likely belonging to Dagestani or Persian bladesmiths.[18] In the first half of the 19th century, the Elizarashvili family was one of the most famous blacksmithing families not only in theCaucasus but also inIran,Turkey andRussia. Giorgi Elizarashvili inherited the family secrets of blacksmithing from his ancestors and passed on his knowledge and skills to his sons – Efrem and Karaman. The family maintained strictly the secrets of processing steel, but in 1828 Karaman shared the secret by the order of theRussian emperor Nicholas I, and in return received a gold medal (with Anna ribbon) and 1000Chervonets (high-value gold coins).[19] Other famous masters of Caucasian arms included the Armenians Osip Papov, Gevork Purunsuzov, and Khachatur Beburov, the Dagestani Bazalai, and the Chechen Chilla Murtazaliev.
Besides being a status symbol and weapon, many social traditions were associated with the Kindjal. The usage of Georgian Khanjali/Satevari in pre-marital relationships, termed as "sc'orproba(სწორპრობა)," was aKhevsur custom. During the night, a young couple may lie together with a Khanjali between them. Sexual activity between the two was prohibited. Anyone who disobeyed this rule was put to death.[20] The Kindjal was also popularly used while dancing.
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