The Wootz Yataghan Thread

CharlesS · 7th August 2011, 08:28 PM

For years I was convinced that a wootz yataghan did not exist and had several discussions with other collectors about it; some agreed, some did not. About 10 years ago I found my first wootz yataghan(#1 below) and only recently found my second example(#2 below). Rsword and I thought it would be cool to put together a thread that explored exclusively yataghans with wootz blades. Pattern welded examples and twistcore examples are less rare, though beautiful nonetheless, but here let's see some more examples of yataghans with wootz blades, including the various forms of wootz. I am sure Rsword has an example to contribute and hope many others will as well.

#1 below is 23 inches overall. #2 is 22.5 inches overall.

Battara · 7th August 2011, 10:52 PM

Both are great, though my favorite is the first one.

A.alnakkas · 7th August 2011, 11:27 PM

Amazing. Such lovely rare pieces. Is it far fetched to assume that those are persian trade blades?

CharlesS · 7th August 2011, 11:54 PM

Honestly, I do not know about the blades, though the quality of the wootz is certainly Persian. The blade style though is quite Ottoman, and typical to lots of yats.

A.alnakkas · 7th August 2011, 11:58 PM

What made me think its persian made for the turkish market is how similar the fullering and decoration to the ones done on persian made palas. Will try to find examples to share!

A.alnakkas · 8th August 2011, 12:01 AM

http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=3697

I hope you can see the similarity :-p

Battara · 8th August 2011, 12:29 AM

Am I right in noticing that the first piece is more Turkish than Balkan?

ariel · 8th August 2011, 12:39 AM

The second one looks Indian to me based on incised metal both on the blade and the handle.

Gavin Nugent · 8th August 2011, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The second one looks Indian to me based on incised metal both on the blade and the handle.

With anything possible in the wonderful world of blades, can you share an image Ariel?

There are numerous Turkish Kilij/Pala with this same handle aspect/design seen along the the spine including the raised ridge.

This Georgian sabre below also shares the same designs along the spine.

Both very nice pieces Charles, congrats and thanks for sharing.

Gav

ariel · 8th August 2011, 01:02 AM

Poor pics, I know. But if you want Ansel Adams, look elsewhere:-)
Both have very faint and spotty wootz pattern, and I did not want to overetch them.

ariel · 8th August 2011, 01:04 AM

Agate handle ( one cheek is missing) with tourmalines and emerald.

Battara · 8th August 2011, 03:19 AM

I like your yats Ariel.

CharlesS · 8th August 2011, 03:54 AM

Thanks Ariel....great examples!!

Kurt · 8th August 2011, 10:50 AM

Hi ,
I'm sure this Yatagan was in a Ottoman workshop
produced.
Best
Kurt

CharlesS · 10th August 2011, 01:25 AM

Gorgeous piece Kurt...thanks for adding it to the thread.

Battara · 10th August 2011, 04:30 AM

Kurt - great yat - never seen one like this before. Vielen Dank!

RSWORD · 14th August 2011, 04:24 PM

My apologies Charles for taking so long to post my example but things have been a bit on the busy side for me. Here is my example. It is a good long Yat with a nice coarse wootz pattern with good activity. Interesting in this thread to see two smaller examples in that 20-24" range and then a couple of larger examples in the 28-33" range. Great examples that have been shared and I hope a few more are shared although I can understand given the scarcity of wootz examples that there wouldn't be a tremendous amount anyway.

CharlesS · 14th August 2011, 09:01 PM

Thanks Rsword...was looking forward to this one. No prob with your being "busy"!

7th August 2011, 11:58 PM	#5
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	What made me think its persian made for the turkish market is how similar the fullering and decoration to the ones done on persian made palas. Will try to find examples to share! Last edited by A.alnakkas; 8th August 2011 at 12:12 AM.

8th August 2011, 01:02 AM	#10
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Wootz yataghan Balkan Poor pics, I know. But if you want Ansel Adams, look elsewhere:-) Both have very faint and spotty wootz pattern, and I did not want to overetch them. Attached Images

8th August 2011, 01:04 AM	#11
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Wootz yataghan North Africa. Agate handle ( one cheek is missing) with tourmalines and emerald. Attached Images

8th August 2011, 10:50 AM	#14
Kurt Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 196	Ottoman wootz Yatagan Hi , I'm sure this Yatagan was in a Ottoman workshop produced. Best Kurt Attached Images

14th August 2011, 04:24 PM	#17
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	My apologies Charles for taking so long to post my example but things have been a bit on the busy side for me. Here is my example. It is a good long Yat with a nice coarse wootz pattern with good activity. Interesting in this thread to see two smaller examples in that 20-24" range and then a couple of larger examples in the 28-33" range. Great examples that have been shared and I hope a few more are shared although I can understand given the scarcity of wootz examples that there wouldn't be a tremendous amount anyway. Attached Images

7th August 2011, 08:28 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	The Wootz Yataghan Thread For years I was convinced that a wootz yataghan did not exist and had several discussions with other collectors about it; some agreed, some did not. About 10 years ago I found my first wootz yataghan(#1 below) and only recently found my second example(#2 below). Rsword and I thought it would be cool to put together a thread that explored exclusively yataghans with wootz blades. Pattern welded examples and twistcore examples are less rare, though beautiful nonetheless, but here let's see some more examples of yataghans with wootz blades, including the various forms of wootz. I am sure Rsword has an example to contribute and hope many others will as well. #1 below is 23 inches overall. #2 is 22.5 inches overall. Attached Images

7th August 2011, 10:52 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Both are great, though my favorite is the first one.

7th August 2011, 11:27 PM	#3
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Amazing. Such lovely rare pieces. Is it far fetched to assume that those are persian trade blades?

7th August 2011, 11:54 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Honestly, I do not know about the blades, though the quality of the wootz is certainly Persian. The blade style though is quite Ottoman, and typical to lots of yats.

8th August 2011, 12:01 AM	#6
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=3697 I hope you can see the similarity :-p

8th August 2011, 12:29 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Am I right in noticing that the first piece is more Turkish than Balkan?

8th August 2011, 12:39 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The second one looks Indian to me based on incised metal both on the blade and the handle.

8th August 2011, 03:19 AM	#12
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I like your yats Ariel.

8th August 2011, 03:54 AM	#13
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Thanks Ariel....great examples!!

10th August 2011, 01:25 AM	#15
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Gorgeous piece Kurt...thanks for adding it to the thread.

10th August 2011, 04:30 AM	#16
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Kurt - great yat - never seen one like this before. Vielen Dank!

14th August 2011, 09:01 PM	#18
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Thanks Rsword...was looking forward to this one. No prob with your being "busy"!