This is a fantastic example of a highly embellished Caucasian style qama dagger, also commonly referred to as "Cossack" daggers, due to the famous horsemen regularly carrying them. It measures 20 3/8 inches overall and a 15 1/4 inch spearpoint blade with impressive double fullers down the center line of each side, flanked by wide shallow fullers, and displaying an interesting and attractive Damascene like swirl pattern. The outside of the blade has a deeply sunk teardrop maker's mark with Arabic characters within. The hilt has horn grip panels, the outer panel covered with a panel that is masterfully engraved with floral vines and finished in contract with blue and silver plating. The included scabbard is leather wrapped with the fittings engraved with similar patterns as the hilt, and finished with the same blue and silver contrast, as well as an Arabic inscription on the back of the throat. A supporting German silver bar has been soldered onto the backside of the scabbard. Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Very fine, the blade showing a mix of bright and dark grey patina with some scattered patches of light surface pitting and mostly distinct Damascene-like patterns. The silver plating shows an attractively aged patina overall with mostly crisp engraving and retaining most of the blue finish. The leather of the scabbard has a protective coating applied and there is generally only mild wear on the piece as a whole.