Yataghan/ Interesting Scabbard

rand · 23rd September 2016, 03:41 AM

Appreciate the feedback about this piece. The date is hard to read in the photo, it is 1241. The scabbard is definitely not a coin grade silver that you would expect to see, my best guess is a nickel alloy. Which is very unusual and surprising. Will take an overall photo tomorrow and post, but you cab see just about all parts of this sword now. The blade has a core twist, that too is hard to see in the photo's. The shirmani grip scales are in excellent condition, the silver inlay of the blade is an over lapping triangular punch most common on ottoman empire pieces.

Have just not come across a scabbard with this quality that wasn't silver before. The gold wash is very thick, more the sheen of what you would see with gold over copper. But its definitely not upper or silver comprising the scabbard.

Battara · 23rd September 2016, 06:20 AM

Jerseyman has a good point - we need pictures of the whole piece please.....

rand · 23rd September 2016, 01:59 PM

Entire sword and better photo of picture.

rand · 23rd September 2016, 02:03 PM

Writing on blade.

ilias · 24th September 2016, 11:41 AM

Very nice piece rand.
What makes you think is not silver?
Have you tried to clean it?
I will agree with Battara.
The patina looks like more for a silver one.
This kind of work was done only at quality pieces and of course at silver ones.
My guess is that it is silver.

rand · 24th September 2016, 01:56 PM

Hi Ilias,

At first I thought it was silver because of the high quality repousse. But then I tried to clean a small section that did not have gold wash and it definitely does not clean as coin grade silver does. Used flintz silver cleaner, the metal remained black in color and did not polish. In the photo's you can see a green color accumulation in spots, but you can see that wth silver too. The gold wash is thicker on this metal the gold wash on silver, it is also a darker gold color too. This is the first scabbard I have handled like this that is not silver.

kronckew · 24th September 2016, 04:16 PM

someone told me once that many yats had pewter fittings, maybe yours are gilded pewter?

pewter is mostly tin (92%-ish) with a small amt. of copper and antimony to harden it.

tin is the 4th most precious metal after platinum,gold,silver (then tin).
older pewter may have some lead in there too, modern pewter does not.
pewter darkens it's grey colour as it ages.

23rd September 2016, 03:41 AM	#1
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Scabbard & Stuff Appreciate the feedback about this piece. The date is hard to read in the photo, it is 1241. The scabbard is definitely not a coin grade silver that you would expect to see, my best guess is a nickel alloy. Which is very unusual and surprising. Will take an overall photo tomorrow and post, but you cab see just about all parts of this sword now. The blade has a core twist, that too is hard to see in the photo's. The shirmani grip scales are in excellent condition, the silver inlay of the blade is an over lapping triangular punch most common on ottoman empire pieces. Have just not come across a scabbard with this quality that wasn't silver before. The gold wash is very thick, more the sheen of what you would see with gold over copper. But its definitely not upper or silver comprising the scabbard. Attached Images

23rd September 2016, 01:59 PM	#3
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Entire Sword Photo & Writing Entire sword and better photo of picture. Attached Images Last edited by rand; 23rd September 2016 at 02:28 PM.

23rd September 2016, 02:03 PM	#4
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Improved writing photo Writing on blade. Attached Images Last edited by rand; 23rd September 2016 at 02:25 PM. Reason: Unable to load photo

24th September 2016, 01:56 PM	#6
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Scabbard Hi Ilias, At first I thought it was silver because of the high quality repousse. But then I tried to clean a small section that did not have gold wash and it definitely does not clean as coin grade silver does. Used flintz silver cleaner, the metal remained black in color and did not polish. In the photo's you can see a green color accumulation in spots, but you can see that wth silver too. The gold wash is thicker on this metal the gold wash on silver, it is also a darker gold color too. This is the first scabbard I have handled like this that is not silver.

23rd September 2016, 06:20 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Jerseyman has a good point - we need pictures of the whole piece please.....

24th September 2016, 11:41 AM	#5
ilias Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: GREECE Posts: 73	Very nice piece rand. What makes you think is not silver? Have you tried to clean it? I will agree with Battara. The patina looks like more for a silver one. This kind of work was done only at quality pieces and of course at silver ones. My guess is that it is silver.

24th September 2016, 04:16 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	someone told me once that many yats had pewter fittings, maybe yours are gilded pewter? pewter is mostly tin (92%-ish) with a small amt. of copper and antimony to harden it. tin is the 4th most precious metal after platinum,gold,silver (then tin). older pewter may have some lead in there too, modern pewter does not. pewter darkens it's grey colour as it ages.