Origins of this yatagan.

[estcrh]

Since this yatagan is now listed as being "sold" I was wondering if any forum member has an idea of were this yatagan may have come from. I can not remember seeing a scabbard like this one before.

[Battara]

Off hand the Balkans.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Battara

Off hand the Balkans.

No I don't think.
Not all the Yatagan are from the Balkans.
What make you think that?
It's a very strange yatagan...

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Kubur

No I don't think.
Not all the Yatagan are from the Balkans.
What make you think that?
It's a very strange yatagan...

Unfortunately there are not a lot of images but it is strange looking, I have gone through a lot of images online and that I have saved but I can not find anything like it, it is large and has some interesting details like the notches carved into the ears of the hilt and a stylized star and crescent on the scabbard chape.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Kubur

No I don't think.
Not all the Yatagan are from the Balkans.
What make you think that?
It's a very strange yatagan...

I have seen many yataghans from Turkey and other places besides the Balkans, I agree.

However, one of the classic signs of Balkan manufacture is the form of the hilt "ears" - when large like these are and in this form, they are more than not from the Balkans. Pieces from mainland Turkey exhibit much smaller "ears" if you can even call them that.

The one exception seems to come from Sarayevo where there is a form without "ears" at all, but more of a form of pistol grip.

One other note, the mounts on the top and bottom of the scabbard look more European to me, though close ups pictures would help.

i will agree that even for a Balkan example, this one is a little strange or unusual.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Battara

Off hand the Balkans.

My first thought was Balkins as well but not for any particular reason other than the scabbard, but once I started looking around I could not find a similar example.

[Battara]

It is possible that the scabbard is a later replacement. I base this on the style of workmanship. If so this might explain some of the questions regarding the scabbard.

Certainly the stone on top next to the hilt is a later addition. Traditionally Ottomans did not place one there (and it would fall of anyway) and there is the issue of the style of stone setting which is more modern and not traditionally Ottoman.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Battara

It is possible that the scabbard is a later replacement. I base this on the style of workmanship. If so this might explain some of the questions regarding the scabbard.

Certainly the stone on top next to the hilt is a later addition. Traditionally Ottomans did not place one there (and it would fall of anyway) and there is the issue of the style of stone setting which is more modern and not traditionally Ottoman.

I think if you look around enough you can find stones mounted just about anywere on a yatagan, but I agree with the type of setting, it is not what you would expect to see on an Ottoman weapon. You are probably right about the scabbard being a replacement, the style should give some clue to its origin but I can not remember seeing anything similar even on non-yatagan swords.

[Kubur]

The wooden grip are clearly modern replacement.

The scabbard looks good to me.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Battara

Certainly the stone on top next to the hilt is a later addition. Traditionally Ottomans did not place one there (and it would fall of anyway) and there is the issue of the style of stone setting which is more modern and not traditionally Ottoman.

I don't agree at all, many examples on the web...

[Bob A]

The stone on the sword in question is faceted, which implies, to me at any rate, a (relatively) modern origin. Its setting seems consistent with the rest of the fittings on the hilt.