An Interesting Trabzon Knife

[CharlesS]

This looks to be a very interesting dagger/knife from the Trabzon region of Turkey. Were the bolster a little different and more yataghan or kard-like I would be even more sure, but the odd little guard on it is very unusual, I believe, for this region.

The dagger is 19in. overall, with a 13.5in wide and multi-fullered blade with an upturned tip. The blade features some crude-ish floral motifs at the forte. The hilt is yat style and of horn, with woven leather bands.

The scabbard here is newly made for this piece.

Would most agree it is from Trabzon???

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Charles,
Certainly looks Trabzon to me. I have attached some photos of mine for a comparison. I have not seen one of these with the leather wrap on the hilt and that type of guard, different. Interesting piece.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Lew]

Charles

My vote is Trabzon also. Here is mine :) .

[ariel]

The pattern of leather bands weaving is virtually identical to Laz Bichaqs.
Same area.

[Jim McDougall]

It is interesting to see these kind of cleft hilts with similar profile in some Transcaucasian short swords, which were among the groupings which included the well known 'Black Sea Yataghan' (Laz bichaqi). These were depicted in the 1897 Hungarian reference cited in "The Origins of the Shashka" (Jacobsen & Triikman, Denmark, 1941).