Inherited Yatagan

mattl6 · 4th August 2016, 07:10 PM

Hi All,
I recently inherited this Yataghan and I was wondering if anyone would be able to help with identification, dating, inscription translation, etc...
Thank you all in advance,
Matt

Battara · 5th August 2016, 12:23 AM

To me this looks like a Turkish proper 19th century piece. Date will be better confirmed once some translates the Turkish in Arabic script. I will say though that I believe the Ottomans changed to Western Romanized script after 1928 under Kamal Ataturk.

mattl6 · 11th August 2016, 06:57 PM

Thanks Battara. Does anyone else have any further information? A translation of the script would be greatly appreciated!

Kubur · 12th August 2016, 09:23 AM

The date is 1788, end of 18th c.
You should post a better photo of the inscription.
Anyway it's a nice yataghan but not a master piece.
I like the walrus grips.

kronckew · 12th August 2016, 02:06 PM

i twerked your images, got tired of craning my neck.

interesting 'tree of life'
scabbard under it does not look original

later replacement?

mattl6 · 17th August 2016, 01:30 PM

Thank you for the dating Kubur.
Yes kronckew, the scabbard is definitely not original. I appreciate the updated images.

Any translations available out there?

Thank you all for all the helpful information!

mattl6 · 8th September 2016, 12:27 AM

Any one have any more information?
Thank you all in advance.

mattl6 · 30th September 2016, 02:20 PM

Bump for a translation if it is out there.
Thank you

mattl6 · 12th November 2016, 07:10 PM

Last bump try.

kwiatek · 20th October 2019, 04:35 PM

A Turkish couplet:

bu bıçağın zarbından cümle düşman tarumar
her belayı def’ eder ol gani perverdigar

“All of the enemy are scattered at this knife’s blow,
That Self-Sufficient Sustainer (i.e. God) repels every catastrophe.”

kwiatek · 20th October 2019, 04:51 PM

Sorry, I gave an incorrect reading, it should be:

A Turkish, couplet. For some reason the first words of each line are missing.

[bu bıçağın] zarbından cümle düşman tar-ü mar
[alır düşmandan] intikamını sanki misli zülfikar

“The entire enemy are scattered at [this knife’s] blow,
[It takes] its revenge on the enemy like Zülfikar.”

The maker’s mark reads “Ahmed”.

ariel · 21st October 2019, 12:35 AM

Finally we got a member who can read old Turkish!

Kwiatek, you are more than welcome here!
Just do not leave this place because of too many requests to translate.

kronckew · 21st October 2019, 09:22 AM

Yes, knowledge is better when passed on, the more it is spread, the better we all get.

4th August 2016, 07:10 PM	#1
mattl6 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 6	Inherited Yatagan Hi All, I recently inherited this Yataghan and I was wondering if anyone would be able to help with identification, dating, inscription translation, etc... Thank you all in advance, Matt Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 5th August 2016 at 12:19 AM. Reason: Asking for valuation on an item is against forum policy.

5th August 2016, 12:23 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	To me this looks like a Turkish proper 19th century piece. Date will be better confirmed once some translates the Turkish in Arabic script. I will say though that I believe the Ottomans changed to Western Romanized script after 1928 under Kamal Ataturk. Last edited by Battara; 12th August 2016 at 12:43 AM.

12th August 2016, 09:23 AM	#4
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	The date is 1788, end of 18th c. You should post a better photo of the inscription. Anyway it's a nice yataghan but not a master piece. I like the walrus grips. Attached Images

12th August 2016, 02:06 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	i twerked your images, got tired of craning my neck. interesting 'tree of life' scabbard under it does not look original later replacement? Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 12th August 2016 at 02:23 PM.

20th October 2019, 04:51 PM	#11
kwiatek Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 153	Sorry, I gave an incorrect reading, it should be: A Turkish, couplet. For some reason the first words of each line are missing. [bu bıçağın] zarbından cümle düşman tar-ü mar [alır düşmandan] intikamını sanki misli zülfikar “The entire enemy are scattered at [this knife’s] blow, [It takes] its revenge on the enemy like Zülfikar.” The maker’s mark reads “Ahmed”. Last edited by kwiatek; 20th October 2019 at 10:23 PM.

11th August 2016, 06:57 PM	#3
mattl6 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 6	Thanks Battara. Does anyone else have any further information? A translation of the script would be greatly appreciated!

17th August 2016, 01:30 PM	#6
mattl6 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 6	Thank you for the dating Kubur. Yes kronckew, the scabbard is definitely not original. I appreciate the updated images. Any translations available out there? Thank you all for all the helpful information!

8th September 2016, 12:27 AM	#7
mattl6 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 6	Any one have any more information? Thank you all in advance.

30th September 2016, 02:20 PM	#8
mattl6 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 6	Bump for a translation if it is out there. Thank you

12th November 2016, 07:10 PM	#9
mattl6 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 6	Last bump try.

20th October 2019, 04:35 PM	#10
kwiatek Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 153	A Turkish couplet: bu bıçağın zarbından cümle düşman tarumar her belayı def’ eder ol gani perverdigar “All of the enemy are scattered at this knife’s blow, That Self-Sufficient Sustainer (i.e. God) repels every catastrophe.”

21st October 2019, 12:35 AM	#12
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Finally we got a member who can read old Turkish! Kwiatek, you are more than welcome here! Just do not leave this place because of too many requests to translate.

21st October 2019, 09:22 AM	#13
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	Yes, knowledge is better when passed on, the more it is spread, the better we all get.