Balkans: yataghan or khandjar?

Emanuel · 9th August 2009, 05:52 PM

Hello Ariel,

In the article "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21, the author investigates the practice of taking heads in Montenegro at the turn of the 20th century. The Montenegrans are said to cut heats with a "hanzhar", a big knife. I had taken this to mean a khanjar, but that's a stabbing weapon, not slashing. Perhaps "hanzhar" was indeed interchangeable with yataghan.

TVV · 9th August 2009, 06:36 PM

Ariel,
At least in Bulgaria, the terms are not interchangeable, and the yataghan was a lot more popular - all Bulgarian haiduts and revolutionaries had either a yataghan, sometimes a kilidj, almost never a khanjar, based on photos.
When it comes to secondary weapons, the karakulaks (a local, smaller version of a yataghan) and kamas were more popular than khanjars.
Regards,
Teodor

ariel · 29th December 2009, 07:53 PM

In the recent Elgood's book there is a statement that in Albania and Bosnia-Hercegovina yataghans ( long ones, not some anemic knives!) were indeed called Handjars.
And then I looked at Stone.... Same info.
Say whatever you want about old George Cameron, but he knew his stuff! We should open him more often.

9th August 2009, 05:52 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Ariel, In the article "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21, the author investigates the practice of taking heads in Montenegro at the turn of the 20th century. The Montenegrans are said to cut heats with a "hanzhar", a big knife. I had taken this to mean a khanjar, but that's a stabbing weapon, not slashing. Perhaps "hanzhar" was indeed interchangeable with yataghan. Last edited by Emanuel; 9th August 2009 at 07:03 PM.

9th August 2009, 06:36 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,738	Ariel, At least in Bulgaria, the terms are not interchangeable, and the yataghan was a lot more popular - all Bulgarian haiduts and revolutionaries had either a yataghan, sometimes a kilidj, almost never a khanjar, based on photos. When it comes to secondary weapons, the karakulaks (a local, smaller version of a yataghan) and kamas were more popular than khanjars. Regards, Teodor

29th December 2009, 07:53 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	In the recent Elgood's book there is a statement that in Albania and Bosnia-Hercegovina yataghans ( long ones, not some anemic knives!) were indeed called Handjars. And then I looked at Stone.... Same info. Say whatever you want about old George Cameron, but he knew his stuff! We should open him more often.