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Originally Posted by eftihis
Hi, to me it looks like an original French hussar blade that was re-used as an ottoman sword.
I think that after the NApoleonic wars there has been a surplus of weapons, (or a trade of remaining blades and parts). This could have been bought in France (or Russsia as a spoil of war), maybe together with other surplus in large quantities, exported to same parts of Ottoman teritory and re-fited according to the local fashion, and then travelled up to Crete.
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Hi Eftihis,
I'm curious, why French ?
As Ibrahiim has well noted there are distinct influences seen in similarities of blades with the yelman as well known in the sabres of the Turkic spheres and with European types. Actually both the French and the British were profoundly influenced by the sabres used by the Mamluks in the Egyptian campaigns, and it is generally held that these Ottoman type examples were the basis for many officers sabres in both armies during the Napoleonic wars. In England the hilt form of the Ottoman sabres became that established as the pattern for general officers in 1831. The American use of these 'pistol grip' type hilts of the Ottoman form came from thier own contact with them in conflicts in North Africa as well, and became established as the 'mameluke' sabre officially worn by Marine officers (I wrote an article on this for the USMC back in 2004).
The blade with yelman was a feature indeed adopted in East Europe by Hungary and Poland from these type sabres used by the Turks as early as the 16th century. This feature became well established on the blades of many sabres in following centuries, and in developmental studies often shows its distinct presence with Turkic tribes, while the Persians favored the lighter and deeply parabolic shamshir type blade. These were radiused to a point, without the widened yelman which is generally considered to add impetus to the cutting blow in the Turkic forms of blade.
While it does seem that the British, deeply influenced by Eastern European and Austrian in particular forms as they developed the M1796 pattern sabre, also included the 'yelman' in some types of these blades considered. The yelman was also present in the blades of many tulwars in use in India in the 18th century, thought to be influences of the earlier Turkic tribes which were progenitors of the Mughal dynasties. These may have as well been the source for the yelman on some earlier examples of British cavalry sabres, I have seen at least two forms of officers sabres with these, both c.1810.
While I think there may have been examples of French officers sabres which may have had the yelman, it is important to note that these blade types were also favored by officers of England (the American swords as far as I know did not use this feature). In any case, I think that considering the context in which this sword was found, it is far more likely that it would be of the occupying Ottoman forces over a considerable period and who were known to use these type sabres, than to have been of a European surplus provenance, which seems more tenuous.
Regardless, the influence of these swords on European forms is well noted, as shown.
All the best,
Jim