2 Yatagans for comment

Cerjak · 26th February 2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

No, they are NOT collectable. They are Chinese junk.
I am ready to take them off your hands right away.

:-)

I so stupid ,before to post I have forget to remove the serail number !!
So you know that I still have 1877 units available and I could supply you easily!!
CERJAK

TVV · 26th February 2012, 07:47 PM

The first yataghan is a magnificent piece, thanks for sharing. The style of the ears, encased in silver places it to the Western Balkans. 1878 was the end of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, which marked the liberation of Bulgaria and the independence of Serbia and Montenegro, with the latter two countries getting significant territorial gains. The elaborate scabbard and hilt may have been comissioned to mark this event by a participant in this war, most likely from Montenegro. We will never know, but it is fun to speculate.
Regards,
Teodor

LewisB · 27th February 2012, 04:14 AM

Lovely, lovely pieces.

May I ask, how do they feel in the hand? At first blush, the ears on the 1878 piece "look" like they might be uncomfortable, but that is based on simply looking at them and having no experience with yataghans.

(Is there an accepted transliteration for these? With H or without?)

SERGIU · 27th February 2012, 09:16 AM

The short yataghan-style knife is referred as Marine-yataghan by most Balkan dealers,(maybe because of his size) but also as belosapac bichaq or bicak. personally I believe that they are knives carried by christians in the Balkan areas, as ottoman laws forbidded christians to carry yats or swords with long blades.(only blades as long as the opening of a human hand).
The metal hilt yathagan dated 1878 seems greek to me, because of the decorations especially the female figure on the scabbard. Most of our Balkan edged weapons dated 1878-1890(mainly 1878) are made in Bosnia, and clearly different in style to your yat.This one has indeed Balkan style ears, but nothing else in common with belosapac yataghans made in Boka Kotorska, Foca, Uzice etc
1878 was also the year of a forgotten war, the "pacification of Bosnia", when austro hungarian units (also troops from my hometown) fought the patriots of Bosnia and occupied the former ottoman sandjak .

Cerjak · 27th February 2012, 10:34 AM

Again a lot of knowing that will help to have more knowledge on those sword history
Thank you SERGIU&TTV

stelio · 27th February 2012, 11:21 AM

Hello. for large giatagan would say definitely that are from GREECE, the decoration on the handle and the bag is identical to that of northern Greece. the short giatagan except that the reference call it navy and was one of the weapons that were the Christians in the Balkans.

Sylektis · 27th February 2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SERGIU

The short yataghan-style knife is referred as Marine-yataghan by most Balkan dealers,(maybe because of his size) but also as belosapac bichaq or bicak. personally I believe that they are knives carried by christians in the Balkan areas, as ottoman laws forbidded christians to carry yats or swords with long blades.(only blades as long as the opening of a human hand).
The metal hilt yathagan dated 1878 seems greek to me, because of the decorations especially the female figure on the scabbard. Most of our Balkan edged weapons dated 1878-1890(mainly 1878) are made in Bosnia, and clearly different in style to your yat.This one has indeed Balkan style ears, but nothing else in common with belosapac yataghans made in Boka Kotorska, Foca, Uzice etc
1878 was also the year of a forgotten war, the "pacification of Bosnia", when austro hungarian units (also troops from my hometown) fought the patriots of Bosnia and occupied the former ottoman sandjak .

I agreed, I think is Greek.
Look these 2 photos of a Greek Kilij with very similar decoration and the crown of King George I of Greece. (1863-1913)

27th February 2012, 10:34 AM	#5
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,065	thank you Again a lot of knowing that will help to have more knowledge on those sword history Thank you SERGIU&TTV

26th February 2012, 07:47 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	The first yataghan is a magnificent piece, thanks for sharing. The style of the ears, encased in silver places it to the Western Balkans. 1878 was the end of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, which marked the liberation of Bulgaria and the independence of Serbia and Montenegro, with the latter two countries getting significant territorial gains. The elaborate scabbard and hilt may have been comissioned to mark this event by a participant in this war, most likely from Montenegro. We will never know, but it is fun to speculate. Regards, Teodor

27th February 2012, 04:14 AM	#3
LewisB Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX, USA Posts: 8	Lovely, lovely pieces. May I ask, how do they feel in the hand? At first blush, the ears on the 1878 piece "look" like they might be uncomfortable, but that is based on simply looking at them and having no experience with yataghans. (Is there an accepted transliteration for these? With H or without?)

27th February 2012, 09:16 AM	#4
SERGIU Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Timisoara, Romania Posts: 32	The short yataghan-style knife is referred as Marine-yataghan by most Balkan dealers,(maybe because of his size) but also as belosapac bichaq or bicak. personally I believe that they are knives carried by christians in the Balkan areas, as ottoman laws forbidded christians to carry yats or swords with long blades.(only blades as long as the opening of a human hand). The metal hilt yathagan dated 1878 seems greek to me, because of the decorations especially the female figure on the scabbard. Most of our Balkan edged weapons dated 1878-1890(mainly 1878) are made in Bosnia, and clearly different in style to your yat.This one has indeed Balkan style ears, but nothing else in common with belosapac yataghans made in Boka Kotorska, Foca, Uzice etc 1878 was also the year of a forgotten war, the "pacification of Bosnia", when austro hungarian units (also troops from my hometown) fought the patriots of Bosnia and occupied the former ottoman sandjak .

27th February 2012, 11:21 AM	#6
stelio Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 97	Hello. for large giatagan would say definitely that are from GREECE, the decoration on the handle and the bag is identical to that of northern Greece. the short giatagan except that the reference call it navy and was one of the weapons that were the Christians in the Balkans.