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Old 22nd December 2005, 10:21 PM   #2
ariel
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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The simplest answer: it is an Ottoman Yataghan, likely Eastern/Central Anatolia, based on decorative motives.
It is inscribed in Arabic script, but I think it is an early/primitive Turkish font called Osmanly. Arabic experts will be helpful, and Turkish Forumites may either crack it in 5 seconds flat or get totally stumped, because they all grew in modern Turkey and very few Turks these days can read Arabic.
I know it because I had a yataghan inscribed the same way and it confounded professional linguists and several native Turks.
The handle is a replacement
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