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1|2|3|4|Contents
ARMS AND ARMOR FROM IRAN
(2)
The Bronze Age to the
End of the Qajar Period
Watered Steel
The book contains information with regard to the
classification of watered steel by al Kindi, Beiruni,
Ibn Sina, etc. and a comparative analysis of the
research in this field. For the first time, the
classification of watered steel in Noroozname by Omar
ibn Khayyam Neishaburi, the renowned Persian poet and
mathematician from the 11th century, is examined. The
development of swords from double-edged blades into
single-edged sabers encompasses an important part of
this text. Many valuable primary sources, such as Adab
al Harb va Shojae by Mobarakshah ben Mansur, Noroozname
by Khayyam
 Neishaburi,
and secondary Iranian sources, are consulted to
establish a solid cultural foundation for the
development of edged weapons. Beautiful examples of
Iranian shamshirs (swords) attributed to Iranian kings
and rulers are illustrated. Included are powerful images
of shamshirs without fullers (shamshir attributed to
Shah Ismail Safavid), with fullers (shamshir attributed
to Shah Safi), highly curved blades (shamshir attributed
to Karim Khan Zand), and slightly curved and serrated
blades (shamshir attributed to Shah Suleiman Safavid),
proving that different styles of swords coexisted with
each other. One of the hallmarks of the text is the
analysis of three shamshirs that are attributed to Timur.
Additionally disclosed is some proof that the highly
curved Iranian sword (shamshir) was
 known
for a long time before Shah Abbas -Safavid’s rise to
power. Two of these blades show separate gold-inlay with
different datings and names. This, of course, is an
indication that these swords were used as hereditary
swords from one generation to the next.
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