Metallurgy

Armenia is one of earliest sites of ancient metallurgy. Over the centuries it also excelled at sword and dagger manufacturing. Because Armenians were not allowed to make weapons during the Turkish and Persian occupations, some weapon makers moved to Tbilisi (Georgia) which was under Russian rule. Thus in 19^th century Transcaucasus of the 454 weaponsmiths 297 were Armenian. Of the 3,404 silversmiths, 1579 were also Armenian. From 1842 to 1866 some 2,840 registered daggers were produced in Tbilisi. Of these, the majority were made by Armenians who made up 74.3% of the population in the 1870s.

Armenia is one of earliest sites of ancient metallurgy. Over the centuries it also excelled at sword and dagger manufacturing. Because Armenians were not allowed to make weapons during the Turkish and Persian occupations, some weapon makers moved to Tbilisi (Georgia) which was under Russian rule. Thus in 19^th century Transcaucasus of the 454 weaponsmiths 297 were Armenian. Of the 3,404 silversmiths, 1579 were also Armenian. From 1842 to 1866 some 2,840 registered daggers were produced in Tbilisi. Of these, the majority were made by Armenians who made up 74.3% of the population in the 1870s.