Bulgarian or Afghan knife?

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by ariel

Janissary corps was very brutally disbanded in 1826. Wilkinson sold very poor quality chainmail to the Khedive of Egypt at the end of 19th century. That is as much as I know about chainmail in N. Africa. Can you direct me to your source of Berber chainmail, please?

I mentioned it because I remember reading somwhere a long time ago about the use of chainmail in N Africa in 19th century. Cannot point the source. Will check some of my books later today. It is quite likely to be the case you are referring to.

Regarding the ability to pentrate chainmail, we can speculate ad nausea without reaching any conclusion without actually trying it. However, my flyssas have a remarkably strong tip that I have no doubt could quite easily penetrate ordinary chainmail. As with regards to flyssas cutting capability, it is pathetically poor, so I have no doubt they were used almost exclusively for thrusting/stabbing.

But then again, my two cents.

[ariel]

You might be right. I doubt we will ever have experimentally-obtained evidence:-)

[OsobistGB]

A typical Balkan Akkulak.The decoration of the handle is typical of the Western Balkans,but it may have been made in Rumeli.
Here's one with similar decoration.