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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6
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Hi Everyone
I am new to the forum but am impressed by the overall friendliness and helpfulness on the boards. My question is: I am looking for Montenegrin Yatagans (Yataghans) but do not have any idea where to start looking. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have looked online with no success so far. Maybe im not looking in the right places? Thanks |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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they do occasionally turn up, but are rare.
this is a basic balkan karakulak yataghan which i found on ebay by accident a couple years ago. came from an ebay dealer in varna. haven't seen any since, tho more ornate turkish ones appear on occasion. on ebay, caveat emptor. this is a good site to check here in the swap section (mine not for sale at the moment) http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/yat1.jpg http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/yat2.jpg |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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I have no commercial interest in either of these dealers, but have bought from both and find them to be exceptional in terms of quality, honesty, freindly communication and depth of knowledge.
I can recommend them with no reservations. If you don't see something on their sites, email them and tell them what you want. They also have extensive knowledge of yataghans. Artzi Yoram at artzi@oriental-arms.com http://www.oriental-arms.com/index.php and Charles Sanders kaiserchuck@prodigy.net |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6
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Thanks for the replies. Ill check those places out and hopefully get lucky.
Btw...nice blade kronckew. Any more up close pictures on the sword? Also, Bill Marsh, you mentioned Charles Sanders as a dealer but does he have a website? (URL)..thanks! |
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#5 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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Also try Fred Coluzzi
Coluzzi113@aol.com http://www.fredericksantiqueswords.com/ Fred's having a good sale right now. If you see something you like, move quickly! ![]() Quote:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQ...3aMEFSQ3aMESOI And I also recommend Stefan, another highly honorable dealer. http://www.ashokaarts.com/ ![]() Last edited by Bill Marsh; 26th January 2007 at 01:12 AM. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6
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Thanks again!
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#7 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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your wish is my command, effendi http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/yat1.jpg http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/yat2.jpg http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/yat5.jpg http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/yat6.jpg http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/yat7.jpg the scabbard is not original of course the grip has had a couple of worm holes repaired by injection of a matching color resin the blade appears to have been 'cleaned' with a grinder by some caring previous owner, but there appears to be some signs that the blade is laminated from a number of parallel rods forged together. i have not touched the blade other than to remove all active rust and to oil it. no markings survived the 'cleaning' with the grinder, durn it. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6
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Thanks for sharing!
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#9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 692
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Nice early Yat, Kronckew,
BUT, it is far from beeing a true Montenegro weapon. Montenegrins in the 19th century used yatagans from the typical Sarajevo form: white, big eared hilt with full of jewels. And another type, known as Serbian (i would say Ortodox), with silver filigran hilts with big square ears, also very adorned. No matter what, the western balcans used big eared yatagans and if they got one from the turks they would rehilte it. A Karakulak is composite word from Kulah=skull and Kara=Black (archaic) and it is a synonym for a yatagan as in the 18th and 19th century the most common material for hilts was black horn. |
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,612
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As for the Eastern Balkans, ivory hilts were still more popular, but not everyone could afford them, and Christians generally tried to not attract too much attention, especially by displaying expensive and well adorned weapons. Those who did possess yatagans, were usually out of the law anyway - either haiduts or revolutionaries, as Christians were not allowed to carry arms. Kronckew, your yataghan appears to be of a more simplified type, and I personally do not think it is an early type. To me it appears to date back to the 19th century. Shepherds and other Christians in remote mountain areas needed some form of protection, and they adopted simplified versions of the yatagan that can vary in size and form. Almost all of these had hilts of horn, and hence became known among common folk as "karakulaks". Yours belonged to someone, who was more concerned about functionality rather than appearance, and thus fits the bill. A nice yatagan, congratulations - it may have served a haidut or a revolutionary, which in my eyes as a Bulgarian makes it quite interesting and valuable. I would not place much importance on the fact that the eBay seller you bought it from is from Varna - Miro Bakardjiev is a relatively big dealer (or at least was before the postal ban) of antique edged weapons and he tends to gather them from all over Bulgaria. Pinpointing a geographic area is impossible, but the Balkan mountain is your best guess. I appologize for this diversion from the topic. Shopping for yatagans can be hard, as they are much sought after and therefor expensive. Since a good example will cost a lot (and they are now non-existant or exorbitantly priced in Bulgaria, and exportation from Bulgaria and Turkey is prohibited), the dealers mentioned towards the top of the thread are perhaps the ebst way to go - you are going to end up spending a large amount of money, so better get it from a reliable seller. Regards, Teodor |
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#12 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6
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Wow...lots of great information. Thanks TVV.
I have one question though. You mentioned: "Christians were not allowed to carry arms". But Montenegro is the only known country that has ever required every able male in their country to carry a revolver. I am not sure about yataghans but given that I would think swords would be permitted if guns were. Attached is an interesting document for those interested in some Montenegrin Revolver history. I find all this knowledge of yatagans from the Montenegrin/Balkan area interesting. If their is any other information I would be highly interested in reading it. I purchased a book on ebay about Yatagans but I havent had much time to read it: HERE And heres the article: http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...x759885640.jpg http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...x759884656.jpg Last edited by Yatagan440; 31st January 2007 at 04:06 PM. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,612
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Well, Montenegro was not part of the Ottoman Empire. On the contrary, in its fascinating history, this kingdom managed to maintain its freedom against the Ottoman Empire, serving as an inspiration to all the Christians in the rest of the Balkans. The constant threat the Ottomans posed made it necessary for every man in Montenegro to be well armed and prepared to perform military duty, thus King Nikola's decree. In contrast, Christians under the Ottomans were not allowed to carry any arms, as rebellions were a constant threat to the dying Empire.
Regards, Teodor |
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