Yatagan or ??

Emanuel · 15th December 2010, 09:48 PM

Would it be safer to define the object based on a general range of typological features and geographic characteristics?
So instead of "a recurved blade with eared pommel", we might define it as a "short sword or long knife with slab hilt construction and lobed pommel, generally produced and found in areas of Ottoman influence". This would cover Turkey proper, the Balkans, as well as the Maghreb and the Caucasus.

Apparently with all ethnographic weapons we have a fairly broad range of features to consider, with legitimalte examples at the extremes as well as the centre. The example in this thread may not represent the standard yataghan, but its features still fall in the range commonly defined as a yataghan.

Just my thoughts.
Emanuel

15th December 2010, 09:48 PM	#13
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Would it be safer to define the object based on a general range of typological features and geographic characteristics? So instead of "a recurved blade with eared pommel", we might define it as a "short sword or long knife with slab hilt construction and lobed pommel, generally produced and found in areas of Ottoman influence". This would cover Turkey proper, the Balkans, as well as the Maghreb and the Caucasus. Apparently with all ethnographic weapons we have a fairly broad range of features to consider, with legitimalte examples at the extremes as well as the centre. The example in this thread may not represent the standard yataghan, but its features still fall in the range commonly defined as a yataghan. Just my thoughts. Emanuel