Yataghan: provenance?

Emanuel · 18th March 2006, 09:23 PM

Hello,

In the article "Sabre Kabyles," Camille Lacoste-Dujardin talks about Ottoman yataghan blades being imported in Algeria and completely refitted by local craftsmen. There are even occasions of locally-forged yataghans by smiths who may have learned their craft in Turkey or other places within the empire.
Lacoste specified that the handles were far simpler than the classical Ottoman, merely hinting at the twin-earned originals. Perhaps this is such an example.
The scabbard has the same treatment as flyssa, so it's interesting to see how foreign models were completely adapted to local traditions/preferences.

18th March 2006, 09:23 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, In the article "Sabre Kabyles," Camille Lacoste-Dujardin talks about Ottoman yataghan blades being imported in Algeria and completely refitted by local craftsmen. There are even occasions of locally-forged yataghans by smiths who may have learned their craft in Turkey or other places within the empire. Lacoste specified that the handles were far simpler than the classical Ottoman, merely hinting at the twin-earned originals. Perhaps this is such an example. The scabbard has the same treatment as flyssa, so it's interesting to see how foreign models were completely adapted to local traditions/preferences.