A very good Shamshir from Syria. The blade is forged from wootz (Damascus, watered steel), marked and signed with the maker sign and decorated with gold inlay work. It is 32 inches long, curved and single edged, probably of Persian origin. The cross guard is steel. The ‘Syrian’ attribution comes mainly from the shape of the hilt. The grips are horn inlaid with brass and lead dots and decorated with brass nails. The cross guard is secured to the grips with a twisted copper wire. The pommel is steel and it is sharply down curving (very typical Arab style). Wood scabbard covered with synthetic leather (later) with the original steel mounts decorated with typical silver koftgari work. Total length 37 1/2 inches. Very good condition. Minor edge nicks and blackened spots on the blade. Losses to the silver koftgari work on the scabbard mounts.