Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Help ID Yataghan. Is it Armenian? Russian?

ariel · 7th September 2009, 08:07 PM

My first reaction was that of a Laz Bichaq: deep circular ribbing of the handle. The bolster looks 1891 pattern Russian shashka. Overall, I would put it into Southern Georgia/Lazistan.
I am unaware of any typical Armenian swords/daggers or even motives ( except for flat niello). This is strange, since every ethnic group around had their national weapons. The most famous Caucasian armourers were ethnic Armenians ( Papov, Mamikonov, Keurk ), and at least 30-50% of the silversmiths in large centers were Armenians as well, but the only way people attribute a particular weapon to the Armenian tradition is when there are Armenian inscriptions.
Thus, I do not know on what basis can we define this yataghan as "Armenian".
Russian masters in Tula and Zlatoust made gorgeous parade yataghans, but, like all things Russian, they were over the top: gold, gems, barbaric Orient....the works. I do not know why would Russians imitate Russian military motives in making an obviously exotic (to them) weapon.

7th September 2009, 08:07 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	My first reaction was that of a Laz Bichaq: deep circular ribbing of the handle. The bolster looks 1891 pattern Russian shashka. Overall, I would put it into Southern Georgia/Lazistan. I am unaware of any typical Armenian swords/daggers or even motives ( except for flat niello). This is strange, since every ethnic group around had their national weapons. The most famous Caucasian armourers were ethnic Armenians ( Papov, Mamikonov, Keurk ), and at least 30-50% of the silversmiths in large centers were Armenians as well, but the only way people attribute a particular weapon to the Armenian tradition is when there are Armenian inscriptions. Thus, I do not know on what basis can we define this yataghan as "Armenian". Russian masters in Tula and Zlatoust made gorgeous parade yataghans, but, like all things Russian, they were over the top: gold, gems, barbaric Orient....the works. I do not know why would Russians imitate Russian military motives in making an obviously exotic (to them) weapon.