Unusual Yataghan ... but from where?

[CharlesS]

This is a unique yataghan that I picked up recently. It is certainly not very flashy, but I found the construction very interesting. The typical yataghan style blade has a very plain and smaller than usual steel bolster. The hilt has only rudimentary yataghan "ears" for a pommel. The tang is constructed to be in alignment with the remainder of the hilt. The hilt is layered with a brown horn bolsters, followed by a thin steel one, and then the outer ivory scales, each decorated with silver or alloy nails. The rivets are exposed and undecorated. The scabbard is quite typical with a brass mouth and crude brass chape.

I've not seen a yat quite like this before, especially with a hilt constructed in this manner. I am wondering about its origins. The hilt's construction style reminds me very much of some of the layered hilts we see on Cretan daggers, so I am wondering if there is a connection.

Additional opinions and observations are welcomed.

Dimensions:
Overall length in the scabbard: 29in.
Blade length: 22.25in.

[Bob A]

Northwest Frontier/Afghanistan or surrounding area would be my best guess, based on the scabbard and general look of the piece. But it's only a guess.

Nice sword, wherever it may hail from.

[OsobistGB]

For the first time I see such a handle.I definitely think that this yatagan is not in its original form.Probably revamped some time ago.The form of the Afghan yatagans is quite different.

[Kubur]

Well maybe the yatagan and the scababard are different. It's the reason why the sword is going inside the scabbard like the khyber knifes. For me it's a Turkish yatagan rehilted as a long hunting knife but probably in the Ottoman empire...

[TVV]

Nice and well made yataghan. I agree it is unusual, but grips with ivory/bone over horn were not unheard of. I would think this may have been done somewhere in the Western Balkans.

Teodor