Is this a Rhino Horn handle? (Yataghan)
 

Hi,
Can anyone tell me anything about this Yataghan?
I'm especially interested in the pommel - what's it made of? Is it rhino horn?
Is there a date in the inscription? Can you please translate?
Thank you.

My guess is no. Rhino horn usually does not exhibit any swirl effects so I think this is some type of buffalo horn or other animal.

Thank you, LOUIEBLADES.

Are Yataghans with rhino/buffalo horn pommels rarer then those with walrus ivory pommels (or metal pommels)?

Rhino horn handle
 

Hi Gadi

I will be surprised if this is a Rhino horn handle. Usually on this type of Yataghans it is not. I would rather suggest a buffalo horn (its tends to develope with age a fibrous structure look which is sometimes mistaken with rhino horn). A closer examination is required. If you bring it to the meeting of our society next Thursday I will gladly look at it.

Yataghans with rhino horn handle are mostly coming from North Africa, and they have a very specific shape of lobbed pommel ears.

This Yataghan is dated to 1227, 1812 in the Gregorian calendar.

Thank you, Artzi, for the detailed answer.
I'll bring the sword with me to the society meeting (I'll call you tomorrow anyhow).

And for all you people out there, when we say 'society meeting', we refer to the quarterly meeting of the "Israeli society of ethnographic and historical weapons". Since I'm new in this area, I've been only to one (next week will be my second) and let me tell you that it was rather amazing. People exhibited their collections and offered it for sale or swap, there were two lectures by two of our learned members, dinner, auction sale, and a lot of information exchange. There's probably such a local society most everywhere.

The first inscription is
Tevekkeltü alallah : I put my trust in Allah

The second one is:

Sahib Hüseyin Ağa : Owner Hüseyin Agha

Yemliha, Mekselina, Mislina, Mernuş, Debernuş, Şazenuş, Kefeştatayuş, Kıtmir

These are the names of Eshab-i Keyf (Seven Sleepers) and their dog.

The third one is:

1238 (1822-1823) Amel-i Abdullah (Made by Abdullah)

Zifir, you so very helpful!
I was wondering what is the "Eshab-i Keyf" and googled it but all results were in Turkish. Then I looked up "seven sleepers" in the Wikipedia and got the whole story of the sleepers and the cave (including the dog...). Amazing how the legend crosses cultures.
I have 2 more entries in this forum, named "Pls comment on this Yataghan" and "Plas help id this Yataghan". I would very much appreciate (considering you have the time, energy and will for it) if you would translate the writings on those two Yataghans as well.
Thank you so much again.
Gadi

You are very welcome Gadi. I looked at other yatagans that you posted. For the Balkan one, I don't have anything to add Dom's translation, I could not make anything out of the second line. For the other one a clearer picture might help, maybe :)