Origin of maker´s stamp on this yatagan

Kubur · 8th August 2019, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfenoid13

By looking at this picture again in better light it’s clear that the handle and the bolster are both later replacements , done in Turkey. Repairs are probably not too old .

Why? I'm interested to know... Could you explain? Thanks

Martin Lubojacky · 8th August 2019, 08:30 AM

Sfenoid13, you probably have good eyes, so just to avoid misunderstandings:
Bolster on one side was missing - and so it was completed after the acquisition (BTW by the skilled Turkish craftsmen, in this field). I am not sure if it is the one on the picture or not. In any case, it is exactly - really exactly the same like the original one (which is on another side ?).

The horn handle is old and used, it could be original.

Maybe crazy idea (?), but I would not reject the possibility of (butch) production of this big blades for the Ottoman or Turkish Army at the turn of the 19/20 centuries or during and after the 1st World War (twenties) ... But I have no information about this

sfenoid13 · 8th August 2019, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Why? I'm interested to know... Could you explain? Thanks

The handle type as it appears from the photos seems to be one with very small ears, evern it’s broken, you can see the shape is kind of a like T, very small but still kind of a T. This is the preferred type of replacement many repaired Yatagans have. I might be wrong but it’s just a gut thing after seeing so many Yatagans, original and repaired ones. The bolsters are both replacements, one may be and sneer replacement that the other, agains based on the shape andaso the fit and finish. This type of Yatagans tend to have a straight edge bolster, again based on the examples I have seen. I am not expert and these are just based on my opinions based on a couple of bad pictures of the particular Yatahan without being able to see it in person. By the way I also believe the blade is highly polished , not the original finish. It still looks nice but I’m sure you will agree it is polished more recently.

kronckew · 9th August 2019, 08:08 AM

I would think a victorious army after a battle would have a number of weapons for the armourers to repair, they would likely not take the time for artistry and would be as simple and quick as possible, and would cut back any broken grip ears and round off the stumps, matching as close as the remnants allow on both sides, to get it functional & back to it's owner ASAP before the next engagement. Which they then lost & it was taken as a trophy.

Martin Lubojacky · 9th August 2019, 08:29 AM

Sfenoid13, Thank you for your opinion re. Georgian and/or Black See origin and picture of your yatagan with a very similar blade. Blade of your yatagan is very similar.
The blade of my yatagan was rusty. Unfortunately it was that kind of difficult rust, which is not covering the blade of the yatagan evenly (I mean there were isles of the very nice and smooth original surface and isles of rust, sometimes going deep). The steel is hard and also the rust was somehow "stony". I was doing my best to remove the rust and not to damage the blade and to save the uniform look of the surface of the blade at the same time. I think that the kind of "polishing" was necessary, in the final stage. But it was not classical polishing - t The picture also reflects bad light conditions.

Saracen · 14th August 2019, 11:00 AM

T-shaped handle - zeybek yatagan

14th August 2019, 11:00 AM	#6
Saracen Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 147	T-shaped handle - zeybek yatagan Attached Images

8th August 2019, 08:30 AM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Sfenoid13, you probably have good eyes, so just to avoid misunderstandings: Bolster on one side was missing - and so it was completed after the acquisition (BTW by the skilled Turkish craftsmen, in this field). I am not sure if it is the one on the picture or not. In any case, it is exactly - really exactly the same like the original one (which is on another side ?). The horn handle is old and used, it could be original. Maybe crazy idea (?), but I would not reject the possibility of (butch) production of this big blades for the Ottoman or Turkish Army at the turn of the 19/20 centuries or during and after the 1st World War (twenties) ... But I have no information about this

9th August 2019, 08:08 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	I would think a victorious army after a battle would have a number of weapons for the armourers to repair, they would likely not take the time for artistry and would be as simple and quick as possible, and would cut back any broken grip ears and round off the stumps, matching as close as the remnants allow on both sides, to get it functional & back to it's owner ASAP before the next engagement. Which they then lost & it was taken as a trophy.

9th August 2019, 08:29 AM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Sfenoid13, Thank you for your opinion re. Georgian and/or Black See origin and picture of your yatagan with a very similar blade. Blade of your yatagan is very similar. The blade of my yatagan was rusty. Unfortunately it was that kind of difficult rust, which is not covering the blade of the yatagan evenly (I mean there were isles of the very nice and smooth original surface and isles of rust, sometimes going deep). The steel is hard and also the rust was somehow "stony". I was doing my best to remove the rust and not to damage the blade and to save the uniform look of the surface of the blade at the same time. I think that the kind of "polishing" was necessary, in the final stage. But it was not classical polishing - t The picture also reflects bad light conditions.