First Laz Bichaq in collection

[wolviex]

Dear All!
On local Polish auction I bought recently Laz Bichaq – or Black Sea Yataghan. Such weapon is great rarity in Poland, this is a first one I managed to find, and probably the last one for the nearest future. I bought it for museum collection, while we’ve got here quite rich gathering of yatagans (almost 100 objects) and none like that one. So I believe it will be very nice completion.
However when it arrived I was terrified, because (as often) pictures didn’t show everything, and it looked far worse in reality.
It is probably excavated object or found in some junk room. There was no strong active corrosion, thought it is very rust-eaten, especially around the tip, which is missing and broken. The handle was very poor – one of the horns is damaged and shorter, the grip made of two, added later wooden strips, not precisely cut. One of them was loose, showing strong soilure inside. Anyway the look was horrible. Only visible brass inlay work on blade, apparent through the patina, gave some hope it will be not such bad piece in the future.