turkish/ ottoman dagger

Valjhun · 3rd November 2007, 01:12 AM

I vote for Greece

Yannis · 6th November 2007, 08:11 PM

It could be Greek. If so, it could be from late 19th century to 1980. I cannot tell from the photos.
Do not be surprised for the recent date. The work is very poor for early 19th century. The silversmiths used to make these knifes for locals till WWII and for tourists after that.

ALEX · 7th November 2007, 09:04 AM

Thank you Yannis. You've read my mind:-) I second your opinion. I initially thought Albanian, with Balkan as general direction.
Rand, I just guessed Balkan...just a feeling. The workmanship, as Yannis mentioned, is of fairly poor quality, and the half-T-eared hilt tip is more common on Balkan daggers than on Turkish ones (IMHO). And that false edge, not too Turkish either.

mavi1970 · 8th November 2007, 01:16 PM

So how much in certainty would this be a recently made dagger? The chasing and other parts seems to be mid to late 19th century, but the blade has always been the item that caused me to believe that it was possibly mated to old. new or newer blade to old handle sheath.

Yannis · 8th November 2007, 06:14 PM

Mavi, only if I could hold it I could say more. You have experience, and if you say the blade is old I am sure it is.

The artwork is always the tricky part of age estimation. We use to see great quality from old masters and lower quality from recent ones. But did all the early 19th c. workshops were good? I dont know.

3rd November 2007, 01:12 AM	#1
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	I vote for Greece

6th November 2007, 08:11 PM	#2
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	It could be Greek. If so, it could be from late 19th century to 1980. I cannot tell from the photos. Do not be surprised for the recent date. The work is very poor for early 19th century. The silversmiths used to make these knifes for locals till WWII and for tourists after that.

7th November 2007, 09:04 AM	#3
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Thank you Yannis. You've read my mind:-) I second your opinion. I initially thought Albanian, with Balkan as general direction. Rand, I just guessed Balkan...just a feeling. The workmanship, as Yannis mentioned, is of fairly poor quality, and the half-T-eared hilt tip is more common on Balkan daggers than on Turkish ones (IMHO). And that false edge, not too Turkish either.

8th November 2007, 01:16 PM	#4
mavi1970 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada Posts: 90	So how much in certainty would this be a recently made dagger? The chasing and other parts seems to be mid to late 19th century, but the blade has always been the item that caused me to believe that it was possibly mated to old. new or newer blade to old handle sheath.

8th November 2007, 06:14 PM	#5
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Mavi, only if I could hold it I could say more. You have experience, and if you say the blade is old I am sure it is. The artwork is always the tricky part of age estimation. We use to see great quality from old masters and lower quality from recent ones. But did all the early 19th c. workshops were good? I dont know.