Ottoman Yataghan for comment
 

While in the Midwest recently...and having collecting withdrawals ;) I came across this wonderful Ottoman Yataghan, along with its mate a yataghan sword (which I will post shortly).
After I purchased them I discovered the previous owners only use for them had been for cutting grass on his farm! :eek:

Measures @67cm overall...blade 52.6cm...@6mm thick
Grip appears to be Rhino horn. Mounts are a mixture of gold gilt, and silver...of special note is the pierced open floral work at the base of the blade.

Koftgari work is mostly intact with minimal loss...my reading of Islamic numerals is terrible, but it appears to date from around 1725 (if I am reading it correctly).

Scabbard is lacquered wood, with a gilt decorative groove down one side, mounts are brass. I am assuming the scabbard is a newer 19th century replacement.

If anyone would like to give me a translation of the writing on the blade, or any additional comments, ideas, what have you...thank you.

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100002.JPG

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100001.JPG

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100005.JPG

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100015.JPG

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100008.JPG

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100009.JPG

Well it is a nice piece that it has seen better days. There is a lot of restoration. Scabbard for sure. Hilt or bolster also. They don’t match. IMO hilt is from other yataghan. It does not look like rhino horn but a close picture of an ear could help. Date is 1238 = 1823 in western calendar.

The rest of the inscription is

Swordmaker Hacı Şerif
Owner Hüseyin

Yannis, Zifir...thank you both for giving me the rest of the details, it is appreciated!

I too had come to the conclusion that the hilt and bolster were replacements. Grip on further looking plain bone. But for the price I paid...I have no complaints.

Probably a long shot, but any way of locating where the maker may have been from?
___________________

Here is the 2nd very long Yataghan....measures 94cm, pommel 16cm, blade has a T-back spine for 3/4 of its length. Also has koftgari inscriptions full length of both sides of the blade.
Again no attempts have been made to restore the blade.

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100060.JPG

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100047.JPG

http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/milcoll/P7100048.JPG

This is T hilt yataghan. Turkish 19th century. A plain and destructive weapon. Not very common. Your yataghans need some oil to protect them from rust. Try WD40.