Yataghan/ Interesting Scabbard

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.

rand · 25th September 2016, 12:10 AM

Am familiar with pewter which is a different color, hardness and has a different affinity for adhering to gold. This is a hard, silver colored metal, that can oxidize black and also form a green corrosion.

You are right that pewter is used on islamic swords, daggers at times. You can see some pewter just under the bolsa on this yataghan, the scabbard is not pewter.

Thanks,

rand · 25th September 2016, 03:09 PM

Can anyone translate the writing on blade?

Thanks,

Battara · 25th September 2016, 07:32 PM

Rand, I have also worked on low silver content and that black patina can be crazy to get off unless you have jeweler's polishing equipment (which I have).

Also even sterling silver after a time will have a green patina in places.

rand · 25th September 2016, 09:45 PM

Battara,

There is always a chance it could be low grade silver, but I have serious doubt about that. Have had many yataghans with silver scabbards, chapes and throats, but never came across one such as this. If you have a test to suggest let me know.

24th September 2016, 01:56 PM	#2
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.

24th September 2016, 11:41 AM	#1
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	#3
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.

25th September 2016, 12:10 AM	#4
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Am familiar with pewter which is a different color, hardness and has a different affinity for adhering to gold. This is a hard, silver colored metal, that can oxidize black and also form a green corrosion. You are right that pewter is used on islamic swords, daggers at times. You can see some pewter just under the bolsa on this yataghan, the scabbard is not pewter. Thanks,

25th September 2016, 03:09 PM	#5
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Can anyone translate the writing on blade? Thanks,

25th September 2016, 07:32 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Rand, I have also worked on low silver content and that black patina can be crazy to get off unless you have jeweler's polishing equipment (which I have). Also even sterling silver after a time will have a green patina in places.

25th September 2016, 09:45 PM	#7
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Battara, There is always a chance it could be low grade silver, but I have serious doubt about that. Have had many yataghans with silver scabbards, chapes and throats, but never came across one such as this. If you have a test to suggest let me know.