Yataghans

[Miguel]

Hello Everyone,

I would like to share these two rather worn Yataghans in the hope that the more knowledgeable of you about this type of weapon can identify origin and approximate age etc.
No 1:- Scabbard is wood covered in black leather with silvered steel locket and chape. The eared hilt is made of bone or ivory riveted to the tang with Coral and Stone decoration. The blade has what appears to be an Islamic inscription in gold koftgari with a seal of Solomon and a deep blade stamp.
O/L 28.25 ins with blade length of 22.5 ins x 1.125 to 1.5 ins wide.

No 2:- Scabbard is wood covered with what appears to be Lizard skin and having brass locket and chape. the hilt is similar to No 1 but the decoration is of better quality. The blade has what appears to be Islamic inscriptions in Silver koftgari ( very worn ) on both sides.
O/L 28.75 with blade length of 22.75 ins x 1.125 ins wide.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Miguel.
No 1:-

[Miguel]

No 2:- Photos

[ariel]

What do you mean, - worn?

They are old and they earned every wrinkle, scar and spot:-)

Very good yats. Congratulations!!!

[TVV]

Very nice yataghans Miguel, thank you for sharing. generally speaking, yataghans with big ears of walrus ivory are attributed to the Western Balkans. The first one is very typical, possibly made in Bosnia. The steel furniture on the scabbard is a little more unusual and could be a case of some Western influence.

The second yatghan has lovely silver band and bolsters, in a style associated with Greece. The scabbard with the reptile skin and the shiny brass chape looks to me like a more recent repair/replacement. The chape almost looks like something out of India/Afghanistan and it is possible the whole thing was put together with spare parts, as the reptile skin appears to be glued and not stitched.

Sincerely,
Teodor

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by TVV

Very nice yataghans Miguel, thank you for sharing. generally speaking, yataghans with big ears of walrus ivory are attributed to the Western Balkans. The first one is very typical, possibly made in Bosnia. The steel furniture on the scabbard is a little more unusual and could be a case of some Western influence.

The second yatghan has lovely silver band and bolsters, in a style associated with Greece. The scabbard with the reptile skin and the shiny brass chape looks to me like a more recent repair/replacement. The chape almost looks like something out of India/Afghanistan and it is possible the whole thing was put together with spare parts, as the reptile skin appears to be glued and not stitched.

Sincerely,
Teodor

Thank you for your comments Teodor I am much obliged for this information. I had a feeling myself about the scabbard of No 2 not being quite right and I think your comments re being put together with spare parts may well be the case, I have compared the chape with the ones on my Khyber Knife scabbards and they are similar.
You did not comment on the `Seal of Solomon` inscription and I would be grateful to learn whether it is talismanic or something else.
Regards
Miguel

[estcrh]

Is this scabbard old or new/newish?

[TVV]

Originally Posted by Miguel

You did not comment on the `Seal of Solomon` inscription and I would be grateful to learn whether it is talismanic or something else.
Regards
Miguel

Miguel,

The so-called seal of Solomon was actually quite common on yataghans. Its symbolism perhaps was a representation of the vastness of the universe. If you do a search, I believe there have been some discussions on its use and meaning in older threads.

Regards,
Teodor

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by ariel

What do you mean, - worn?

They are old and they earned every wrinkle, scar and spot:-)

Very good yats. Congratulations!!!

Thanks Ariel I am pleased that you like them, have you any idea of how old they might be ?
Regards
Miguel