Islamic dagger with gold inscription

eftihis · 5th March 2005, 08:04 PM

This is a dagger that i have but i have no clue where it is from, and what the inscription is saying. I would be greatfull for any help!

Yannis · 5th March 2005, 09:23 PM

Very nice and unusual dagger. It has a certain Bosnian look. I can read only the date 1299 that is 1882 in Gregorian calentar. What is the material of the hilt? Bone or ivory?

eftihis · 5th March 2005, 09:42 PM

It is ivory, with inserts of small corall pieces and brass nails. Also the green "ring" near the blade in stained green ivory. I bought it under the description "arab dagger", but it is true that the brass dots remid me bosnia. Not the scabbard thought.

Battara · 6th March 2005, 01:08 PM

Yeah, I'm thinking Bosnian as well. Shame I can't read Arabic.

Raja Muda · 7th March 2005, 03:53 AM

Gentlemen,

After looking through the inscription, I've ruled out Arabic. I've attempted a reading but since the Arabic alphabet makes do with very little vowels, the actual pronunciation might be distorted. Hope someone with a knowledge of Turkish or Balkan languages can take it from here:

'Aqladan harsako yardawud foce Mustafa lataik sanat 1299'

At least we've identified the name Mustafa (who could either be the craftsman responsible or the owner) and the hegira year of 1299. Someone will have to check the corresponding gregorian year.

best wishes

erlikhan · 7th March 2005, 10:35 AM

knife is Bosnian, but the scabbard most probably not original.not style of that knife. old but a replacement. perhaps by a bayonet leather? the tip mounting of the scabbard is a bad later repair too. but koftgari on the blade is very beautiful sample. Inscription can be Turkish or one of Bosnian and Albanian languages which has Turkish words in them. One thing is clear . Assuming the wowels are not proper, it writes "Hersek" , Herzegovina was called "Hersek" in Ottoman period. and, "yardavud" could be instead "arnavud" , which means "Albanian". Can be roughly something like "Albanian Mustafa from Herzegovina made(sanat) in 1299".
Raja Muda, did you put the vowels according to the translation or just guessing so?

5th March 2005, 08:04 PM	#1
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	Islamic dagger with gold inscription This is a dagger that i have but i have no clue where it is from, and what the inscription is saying. I would be greatfull for any help! Attached Images

7th March 2005, 03:53 AM	#5
Raja Muda Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 100	Usmanli Inscription? Gentlemen, After looking through the inscription, I've ruled out Arabic. I've attempted a reading but since the Arabic alphabet makes do with very little vowels, the actual pronunciation might be distorted. Hope someone with a knowledge of Turkish or Balkan languages can take it from here: 'Aqladan harsako yardawud foce Mustafa lataik sanat 1299' At least we've identified the name Mustafa (who could either be the craftsman responsible or the owner) and the hegira year of 1299. Someone will have to check the corresponding gregorian year. best wishes

7th March 2005, 10:35 AM	#6
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	knife is Bosnian, but the scabbard most probably not original.not style of that knife. old but a replacement. perhaps by a bayonet leather? the tip mounting of the scabbard is a bad later repair too. but koftgari on the blade is very beautiful sample. Inscription can be Turkish or one of Bosnian and Albanian languages which has Turkish words in them. One thing is clear . Assuming the wowels are not proper, it writes "Hersek" , Herzegovina was called "Hersek" in Ottoman period. and, "yardavud" could be instead "arnavud" , which means "Albanian". Can be roughly something like "Albanian Mustafa from Herzegovina made(sanat) in 1299". Raja Muda, did you put the vowels according to the translation or just guessing so? Last edited by erlikhan; 7th March 2005 at 12:14 PM.

5th March 2005, 09:23 PM	#2
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Very nice and unusual dagger. It has a certain Bosnian look. I can read only the date 1299 that is 1882 in Gregorian calentar. What is the material of the hilt? Bone or ivory?

5th March 2005, 09:42 PM	#3
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	It is ivory, with inserts of small corall pieces and brass nails. Also the green "ring" near the blade in stained green ivory. I bought it under the description "arab dagger", but it is true that the brass dots remid me bosnia. Not the scabbard thought.

6th March 2005, 01:08 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Yeah, I'm thinking Bosnian as well. Shame I can't read Arabic.