Yatagan

David R · 25th February 2012, 10:24 AM

I expected, hoped for, a standard motto or slogan. The engraving is so crudely done I think anything original would be incomprehensable. Pity really in a way, as the sword itself is nicely made.

SERGIU · 28th February 2012, 06:26 PM

you made the horn hilt scales ? great job, sir .
did you heat the horns in fire? ottoman and balkan makers had a specific technique to give form to the eared grips, with fire and special tools, I watched turkish tv ,a show named Ellerin Turkusu where they showed how it was done.

David R · 28th February 2012, 08:24 PM

I simply cut the horn scales from some buffalo horn I had in store. I had owned (but sold on years ago) a yataghan before, and modeled these on what I remembered of it. I used fairly thick pieces, so I imagine the more sophisticated method of heating and shaping saves material, and probably produces a stronger piece of work.

Zifir · 1st March 2012, 06:15 PM

Hi,
It is little bit hard to see the script as result of the reflection, especially the last part but it is:

La feta ila Ali la seyf ila zülfikar: There is no hero like Ali, there is no sword like his sword, zulfikar.

Best,
Zifir

David R · 1st March 2012, 08:46 PM

One of the things I really appreciate about this site is the wide scope of knowledge and experience available. Thankyou Zifir and AJ1356 for the translation.

LewisB · 6th March 2012, 01:56 AM

David:

Lovely yat, sir. Could you comment about the tang? Full length, full width? Reduced, a la some of the tulwars I have seen?

I'm sorry to offer such elementary questions, but I'm still a beginning student, and I don't know much about the yataghan (in particular).

David R · 13th March 2012, 05:41 PM

The tang is flat and of the same profile as the grip, the ears project/flare well beyond the grip/tang. The tang is wrapped with a decorative brass strip, and has a repoused collar where it joins the blade, filled in this case with plaster....which I need to remove and replace with a more stable material some day. This was a bit of a wreck when I got it, but no complaints, I got it cheap as a result.
I had a yat' before, of much heavier construction and the collar was forged in one with the blade and flat profiled tang.

25th February 2012, 10:24 AM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Thankyou. I expected, hoped for, a standard motto or slogan. The engraving is so crudely done I think anything original would be incomprehensable. Pity really in a way, as the sword itself is nicely made.

1st March 2012, 08:46 PM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Thankyou One of the things I really appreciate about this site is the wide scope of knowledge and experience available. Thankyou Zifir and AJ1356 for the translation.

13th March 2012, 05:41 PM	#7
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Tang. The tang is flat and of the same profile as the grip, the ears project/flare well beyond the grip/tang. The tang is wrapped with a decorative brass strip, and has a repoused collar where it joins the blade, filled in this case with plaster....which I need to remove and replace with a more stable material some day. This was a bit of a wreck when I got it, but no complaints, I got it cheap as a result. I had a yat' before, of much heavier construction and the collar was forged in one with the blade and flat profiled tang.

28th February 2012, 06:26 PM	#2
SERGIU Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Timisoara, Romania Posts: 32	you made the horn hilt scales ? great job, sir . did you heat the horns in fire? ottoman and balkan makers had a specific technique to give form to the eared grips, with fire and special tools, I watched turkish tv ,a show named Ellerin Turkusu where they showed how it was done.

28th February 2012, 08:24 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	I simply cut the horn scales from some buffalo horn I had in store. I had owned (but sold on years ago) a yataghan before, and modeled these on what I remembered of it. I used fairly thick pieces, so I imagine the more sophisticated method of heating and shaping saves material, and probably produces a stronger piece of work.

1st March 2012, 06:15 PM	#4
Zifir Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Istanbul Posts: 228	Hi, It is little bit hard to see the script as result of the reflection, especially the last part but it is: La feta ila Ali la seyf ila zülfikar: There is no hero like Ali, there is no sword like his sword, zulfikar. Best, Zifir

6th March 2012, 01:56 AM	#6
LewisB Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX, USA Posts: 8	David: Lovely yat, sir. Could you comment about the tang? Full length, full width? Reduced, a la some of the tulwars I have seen? I'm sorry to offer such elementary questions, but I'm still a beginning student, and I don't know much about the yataghan (in particular).