Zeibek Yataghan with T-shaped pommel
 

Hi everyone,

Sharing some period pictures of Zeibeks with their characteristic yataghan with T-shaped pommel. Zeibeks were located on the Ionian coast, around Smyrna. A wikipedia entry suggests they are descended from Yoruk groups of Anatolia but I haven't tracked down a better source. Until now these yataghan were identified as eastern or western Anatolian. Maybe some connection there?

From what I've seen, this type of yataghan generally has thicker blades with an integral bolster, as opposed to the separate heavily decorated silver ones most often seen. Dated example generally fall in the second half of the 19th century.

Attached is also a typical T-pommel yataghan from Oriental-Arms.

Thoughts?

Emanuel

Nice pictures Emanuel, thank you for sharing. I think Ariel has suggested that the T-shaped hilts are of Zeibek origin before:

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...bek#post146587

Regards,
Teodor

"Zeybek" is not an etnicity, it is an occupation, a job. It practically means outlaw or mountain men and usually bandit in 19th century rural Western Anatolia. Yorüks(nomadic Turks) of this region oftenly joined their ranks, so did fugitives from law, villagers that did not want to be drafted to army, dischaged soldiers(usually marines) etc. It is not so much different from a term like "cowboy" in western.

"Zeybek yataghan"s with T shaped hilts are very common in most of rural Turkey. Those were yataghanthat lost its function and becamne part of the costume for village elders and merchants. This T shape actually point to a decline in hiltmaking(and generally yataghan-making) in late 19th to first half of 20th centuries. It was just easier to give this simple shape instead of ears for a village blacksmith. Older, much higher quality yataghans also were rehilted in such fashion, when their original, much better grips fell victim to effects of time.

Yes Teodor, Ariel's post is what got me looking into Zeybeks.

Thank you for the clarification Sancar. The term "Zeybek" wasn't clear when I first read about it. Robert Elgood in "The Arms of Greece" lists one example (#172) that's actually very nicely decorated in silver with the T-pommel and he also notes the Yoruk origin of many Zeybeks.

The thing about these yataghan is that they tend to have thicker blades than the Balkan types. Generally the blade is twice as thick and it has an integral bolster. There are also very similar yataghan with horn pommel scales with very small "years", and often with "Turkish ribbon" blades, and a false silver or solder bolster at the base of integral bolster, said to be 18th century (attached), so I'm trying to track down the areas of their manufacture.

On the surface all yataghan are similar, with the same overall shape. The construction is different though, thick blade with thick tang and integral bolster, thin blades with same thickness all the way to the tang and separate silver/gold/whatever bolsters that are aesthetic, not structural.

Where and when did this thicker construction method come into play?

Emanuel

Some more photos of Zeibeks from 1880.

Thanks for the very helpful explanations Sancar!

Here is the proof that Zeibeks are not an ethnicity but rather an occupation, or belonging to a certain clan: the very first pic in the recent Emanuel's series shows 2 distinctly African types. The one with the yataghan between his teeth is particularly splendid: if you can do that, you do not need a dentist:-)