Talantov S. (2016). Razbornyj kinzhal raboty Geurka Jeliarova iz Tiflisa [A Dismountable Dagger by Geurk Eliarov from Tiflis]. Istoricheskoe oruzhievedenie [Weapons History Journal], № 4, pp. 51 — 61.

Talantov S.

Abstract: The article is devoted to a dagger with scabbard and knife and fork attached which was made by Geurk Eliarov, a famous bladesmith who lived in Tiflis in the first half of the 19th century and who founded the whole Eliarov dynasty of bladesmiths. Different weapons made by the master are preserved in The State Hermitage Museum, in The Arsenal of the Tsarskoe selo State Museum, in The State Historical Museum and The Dagestan Combined Historical and Architectural Museum in Makhachkala as well as in private collections. Objects by Eliarov are considered to be among the best samples of Caucasus weaponry. The distinctive feature of this particular dagger is its ability to be taken into two parts and hence obtain two separate blades. The attached fork and knife are also dismountable. The blades of the dagger and the knife consist of two equal pieces which are flat on the inner side.  The fork can be also taken in two parts. The dagger’s handle parts and blade parts are connected with bolts. Dismountable Caucasus daggers are very rare and several samples are preserved in the State Hermitage Museum and private collections. They were mentioned in the scientific papers devoted to the Caucasus arms. The construction of the assembling system of the daggers by Geurk differs from the other ones – the parts adjoin each other without tip connection. Outer and inner surfaces of the dagger’s blades as well as the ones of the attached knife and fork were decorated with zoomorphic and floral patterns. This type of decoration used for the daggers made in Tiflis in the first third of the 19th century points to the strong influence of the Persian art and culture which images of animals are common to. Besides, the author proves the pronunciation of the master’s family name as “Eliarov” rather than “Eliazaroshvily” as the only correct one. He considers the last variant to be an attempt to make the names of people of Armenian origin and works made by Armenian masters on the territory of present Georgia sound Georgian-like. The author introduces in the scientific discourse an extremely rare object which he rightfully considers to be one of the best pieces by the Tiflis bladesmith Geurk Eliarov.

Keywords: dagger, kama, Geurk Eliarov, knife and fork attached, zoomorphic pattern, Tiflis, dismountable dagger.