Yataghan Mystery

[TVV]

Gentlemen,

I need your help to hopefully solve a mystery item. The yataghan (let's call it a yataghan for now) in the attached images was acquired in Bulgaria.
As you can see, the date is 1864/1865, and there is plenty of gold koftgari.
What bothers me are the bone grip scales, which seem a little inferior when compared to the rest of the piece - I would have expected walruss ivory.
The shape looks like something half way between a khyber knife and a yataghan.
According to my friend, who owns it, there may be a faint wootz pattern, but you can not really see it on the pictures.

So what is your opinion - is this an authentic item, or a modern reproduction? If authentic, where do you thing this is from? Could it be a Persian interpretation of a yataghan?

Thank you in advance for your comments,
Teodor

[ariel]

I am sure it is real, and the handle reminds me of a North-African pattern. Would be nice to see its real profile.
I have a N. Afr. one, with real wootz.

[Gavin Nugent]

I am sure it is real, and the handle reminds me of a North-African pattern. Would be nice to see its real profile.
I have a N. Afr. one, with real wootz.

I'm with Ariel on this one too, there is a Flyssa profile there too so the connection makes sense.

Gav

[TVV]

Just like you I was confused about the size of this dagger - I labeled it as a yataghan, but it is much smaller, actually. Here it is together with another very similar dagger and with a k98 bayonet for scale comparison.

According to the seller's story (same seller for both), these two belonged to a family from North-Eastern Bulgaria - Dobrudja. When the family split up, one sibling took the scabbards, who were made of silver, and the other got the knives.

Maybe if someone can help translate the cartouches, we will learn more.

Best regards,
Teodor

[Atlantia]

Hi Teodor,

Very interesting knives/daggers.

LOL, what is with the forum? I was only getting the one post, so have just worked out the dates. Bloody IE!
Anyhoooo............