Yataghan for translation and comment

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Marius,
mmmmmmmm...I'll just remove Greece form the Balkan area...
Just my opinion...

I know, but if you have a look at Elgood's book on weapons from Greece, you'll find some very similar Yataghans atributted to Greece...

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

I know, but if you have a look at Elgood's book on weapons from Greece, you'll find some very similar Yataghans atributted to Greece...

I have yet to find a scabbard that is like yours, all of the ones I have seen had bands around the throat, yours seems to be unusual. Here is an example of what is said to be a Greek yatagan compared to yours.

[eftihis]

Hi, this last one "it said to be greek" yataghan, is clearly an algerian yataghan.
Some comments: Not all Greece had the same style, since they were no borders and the influences/parts/ and craftpeople travelled freely.
Second, untill a few years ago, there have been a lot of Greek buyers with money and interest in these kind of weapons, so the sellers were happy to "baptise" everything "greek" since it sell better. The yataghan posted by Kubur is a Greek one, propably of a post-revolution era (after 1830)

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by eftihis

Some comments: Not all Greece had the same style, since they were no borders and the influences/parts/ and craftpeople travelled freely.
Second, untill a few years ago, there have been a lot of Greek buyers with money and interest in these kind of weapons, so the sellers were happy to "baptise" everything "greek" since it sell better. The yataghan posted by Kubur is a Greek one, propably of a post-revolution era (after 1830)

Exactly!

First, there is quite some distance between Crete and Macedonia for example, and the styles can be very different too.

Second, it is exactly the impression I got from Elgood's book: that he attributed the origins of the blades there mostly based on the anecdotal evidence from the owner, which I consider not trustworthy.

[mariusgmioc]

As the blade had some spots of superficial rust, I alocated today a couple of hous cleaning it. The rust came off nice and easy but, to my surprise while cleaning the blade some watering pattern became quite apparent.

So I guess the blade is wootz.

Please have a look at the photos and let me know what you think!

And still hoping to get a translation of the cartouches...