Gold hilted yataghan

[Yannis]

Originally Posted by erlikhan

http://www.pbase.com/erlikhan2/inbox
Pictures of the gold engraved metal(iron or steel) hilted yataghan i have. Somebody told that this metal hilt type was used by Levends.(Naval soldiers and officers in Ottoman Turkey). As the sea was salty and humid, horn and ivory was getting deformed and damaged in short time. That was why metal was preferred. Can this be correct?

I cant say about materials and the sea. But this yataghan have small ears and I have read once that sailors prefered them, because they didnt mess with the ropes on the boat.

BTW, the word "Levend" is in use in greek language too. It comes from medevial italian words "Leventi" (sailor from the east) > "Levante" (east).