Ottoman Yataghan with Toledo Blade

Jim McDougall · 7th January 2017, 04:34 AM

Blade, heavily worked, does seem 18th century and very much like the characteristic Solingen examples using spurious Spanish markings including the magic and cabala letter devices often emplaced within the TOLEDO on blades. The 'anchor' device was also added at fuller terminus often on these. By the 18th century, the sword making in Toledo had been decimated since the previous century, and though foreign makers had come to Spain to try to maintain the craft, there was no serious effort to revive it until about 1780. Even then the result was limited for some time.

These markings, though very close to the often unusual lettering in the older inscriptions on these blades, seem a bit misaligned and disproportionate. While this brings to mind the idea of them added later to of course imbue the blade with character, or perhaps may have been authentically placed by a less than skilled worker in a German shop.

The 19th century assessment of the Ottoman mounts seems right.
Interesting hybridization!

Alex, thank you for the attention to the cross cultural circumstances with this, and for cross referencing to the European forum. That was the very reason for the inception of that forum, that so many ethnographic weapons not only often used European components, but the influences between these arms was often considerable.

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7th January 2017, 04:34 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Blade, heavily worked, does seem 18th century and very much like the characteristic Solingen examples using spurious Spanish markings including the magic and cabala letter devices often emplaced within the TOLEDO on blades. The 'anchor' device was also added at fuller terminus often on these. By the 18th century, the sword making in Toledo had been decimated since the previous century, and though foreign makers had come to Spain to try to maintain the craft, there was no serious effort to revive it until about 1780. Even then the result was limited for some time. These markings, though very close to the often unusual lettering in the older inscriptions on these blades, seem a bit misaligned and disproportionate. While this brings to mind the idea of them added later to of course imbue the blade with character, or perhaps may have been authentically placed by a less than skilled worker in a German shop. The 19th century assessment of the Ottoman mounts seems right. Interesting hybridization! Alex, thank you for the attention to the cross cultural circumstances with this, and for cross referencing to the European forum. That was the very reason for the inception of that forum, that so many ethnographic weapons not only often used European components, but the influences between these arms was often considerable.