Yatagan blade, any info welcome.

C4RL · 3rd September 2023, 08:33 PM

Hello All, this is my first post seeking information from the knowledgeable folks on here. 👍
This is a Yatagan blade (that much I know!) that I pulled out of a house clearance trash bin many years ago. It was a lump of rust with the remainder of a horn handle in a terrible split & hairy state pushed off the blade with rust.

There was a brass embossed typical triangle on one side & the frayed remains of some fine brass wire, knowing nothing at the time (20 years ago) I sanded it by hand & presumed it was carbon steel, & made the oak handle you now see.

Roll on another 15 years or so & I read something that made me wonder if it might be pattern welded, a quick try with Ferric Cloride looked promising so after a few ferric & vinegar soaks in a bent pvc pipe this is where I am.

Please forgive the handle, but to be honest the original was ruined & if I hadn’t picked it up it would be in a land fill now!
Any info welcome.

Thanks.

Ian · 4th September 2023, 06:06 AM

Hi Carl,

The central pattern on your blade resembles "Turkish ribbon," which has been discussed elsewhere on the Ethnographic Forum. Your pictures are very large. I will resize them. Perhaps you could post smaller ones next time so that they will fit on a single screen rather than having to scroll across. The recommended file sizes are listed in the "Manage Attachments" section of the Thread Post page.

This looks like a very good save. Nice old blade. BTW, I think the handle looks fine and appropriate for an old garbage bin find.

Ian

C4RL · 4th September 2023, 11:49 AM

Thank's for your reply Ian, and sorry about the large images, I made the mistake of linking them which I realised afterwards isn't appropriate! Sorry.

I shall have a search for "Turkish ribbon". Thank you.

Battara · 5th September 2023, 01:58 AM

Oh this Turkish blade is wonderful. The only addition I would make is that this could come from Turkey proper.

C4RL · 5th September 2023, 09:53 AM

Thank you Battara.

After reading up on Turkish ribbon I have a question, I understand the stacking of the twisted bars & my blade has four quite distinct ones along the centre, but what is the composition of the bars that make the cutting edge & spine?

Having looked at other blades of similar construction the spine & edge bars look much plainer, am I correct in assuming this is welded up from the same steel/iron as the pattern bars but a much finer "mix"?

Because my blade was so rusty & required a lot of etching I'm guessing it's this that is showing as fine mix of random & some straighter lines?

Battara · 9th September 2023, 02:23 AM

I would say yes to your question. In fact, it makes sense that it would be more horizontal laminations for stiffness and hardened steel (not iron).

3rd September 2023, 08:33 PM	#1
C4RL Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 50	Yatagan blade, any info welcome. Hello All, this is my first post seeking information from the knowledgeable folks on here. 👍 This is a Yatagan blade (that much I know!) that I pulled out of a house clearance trash bin many years ago. It was a lump of rust with the remainder of a horn handle in a terrible split & hairy state pushed off the blade with rust. There was a brass embossed typical triangle on one side & the frayed remains of some fine brass wire, knowing nothing at the time (20 years ago) I sanded it by hand & presumed it was carbon steel, & made the oak handle you now see. Roll on another 15 years or so & I read something that made me wonder if it might be pattern welded, a quick try with Ferric Cloride looked promising so after a few ferric & vinegar soaks in a bent pvc pipe this is where I am. Please forgive the handle, but to be honest the original was ruined & if I hadn’t picked it up it would be in a land fill now! Any info welcome. Thanks. Attached Images Last edited by Ian; 4th September 2023 at 06:16 AM.

4th September 2023, 06:06 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Hi Carl, The central pattern on your blade resembles "Turkish ribbon," which has been discussed elsewhere on the Ethnographic Forum. Your pictures are very large. I will resize them. Perhaps you could post smaller ones next time so that they will fit on a single screen rather than having to scroll across. The recommended file sizes are listed in the "Manage Attachments" section of the Thread Post page. This looks like a very good save. Nice old blade. BTW, I think the handle looks fine and appropriate for an old garbage bin find. Ian Last edited by Ian; 4th September 2023 at 06:19 AM.

4th September 2023, 11:49 AM	#3
C4RL Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 50	Thank's for your reply Ian, and sorry about the large images, I made the mistake of linking them which I realised afterwards isn't appropriate! Sorry. I shall have a search for "Turkish ribbon". Thank you.

5th September 2023, 01:58 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Oh this Turkish blade is wonderful. The only addition I would make is that this could come from Turkey proper.

5th September 2023, 09:53 AM	#5
C4RL Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 50	Thank you Battara. After reading up on Turkish ribbon I have a question, I understand the stacking of the twisted bars & my blade has four quite distinct ones along the centre, but what is the composition of the bars that make the cutting edge & spine? Having looked at other blades of similar construction the spine & edge bars look much plainer, am I correct in assuming this is welded up from the same steel/iron as the pattern bars but a much finer "mix"? Because my blade was so rusty & required a lot of etching I'm guessing it's this that is showing as fine mix of random & some straighter lines?

9th September 2023, 02:23 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	I would say yes to your question. In fact, it makes sense that it would be more horizontal laminations for stiffness and hardened steel (not iron).