Silver yataghan with inscription

eftihis · 2nd April 2006, 10:49 PM

This was a year ago, but there was no reply, but maybe now we will have a better luck. I am also posting photos of the inscription from the top of the blade.

The third and forth photos are from a very similar, sorter blade, with the same silverwork on the scabbard.

Yannis · 2nd April 2006, 10:54 PM

Looking again this piece I am not sure that silverwork is from Epirus. It is very good repousse work but it lacks any charachteristic motives from the area.

not2sharp · 3rd April 2006, 07:06 AM

What is that deep stamp? I have seen this on a number of old weapons. Was this some kind of popular religious icon, or a government inspection mark?

n2s

Yannis · 3rd April 2006, 07:54 AM

It is the makers mark. Common in yataghans with good blades

not2sharp · 3rd April 2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yannis

It is the makers mark. Common in yataghans with good blades

Do you mean as in a maker, or as a general practice by all makers; and, if the latter, has anyone tried to catalog them?

n2s

Rivkin · 3rd April 2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by not2sharp

Do you mean as in a maker, or as a general practice by all makers; and, if the latter, has anyone tried to catalog them?

n2s

Astvatsaturjan has a number of them for caucasian makers; however, they are very often too alike to each other (typically "heart" or "vase" with some arabic insription) to reliably distinguish them. Another kind of stamp is an arsenal mark, but since there were only 2-3 large armories in the middle east that samped their items, those are somewhat rare.

not2sharp · 3rd April 2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivkin

Astvatsaturjan has a number of them for caucasian makers; however, they are very often too alike to each other (typically "heart" or "vase" with some arabic insription) to reliably distinguish them. Another kind of stamp is an arsenal mark, but since there were only 2-3 large armories in the middle east that samped their items, those are somewhat rare.

It would seem pointless to go through the trouble of marking a blade if the end result is indistinguishable. I wonder if these marks may have been associated more with a maker's guild rather then individual makers.

n2s

2nd April 2006, 10:49 PM	#1
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 511	More inscriptions This was a year ago, but there was no reply, but maybe now we will have a better luck. I am also posting photos of the inscription from the top of the blade. The third and forth photos are from a very similar, sorter blade, with the same silverwork on the scabbard. Attached Images

2nd April 2006, 10:54 PM	#2
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Looking again this piece I am not sure that silverwork is from Epirus. It is very good repousse work but it lacks any charachteristic motives from the area.

3rd April 2006, 07:06 AM	#3
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	What is that deep stamp? I have seen this on a number of old weapons. Was this some kind of popular religious icon, or a government inspection mark? n2s

3rd April 2006, 07:54 AM	#4
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	It is the makers mark. Common in yataghans with good blades