Yataghan for Translation

[G. Mansfield]

Hello everybody, I bought myself a little Christmas present but I am unable to read it unfortunately. I am looking for somebody who can translate. Hopefully, a town, maker and/or owner in the script. On the spine I can interpret a date of 1241=(1825). I am not fully positive, but I am thinking this example to be Ottoman Turkish with Persian styling gold writing, blackened blade with a deep fuller, silver ornaments, and walrus grips. Total length is approximately 75.6cm

Regards,
-Geoff

[G. Mansfield]

Forgot two of the whole sword

[Battara]

What wonderful koftgari work!

[mariusgmioc]

What a beauty! Congratulations!

[kwiatek]

Beautiful!

The larger inscription in two lines are a Turkish couplet, which I've seen on other pieces of this date and type

ياقلاشمه يانمه سيف سياستمله يانارسين
زخمني كوردكده جراح مومله ارارسين

"Do not approach my side, for you will be burnt by my sword of punishment,
On seeing the wound, you will urgently seek a surgeon."

In the cartouche next to this towards the hilt is the maker/owner's name. This is not very clear from the photo, but a better image would help. What I think it is, is:

عمل صاحب ماناو علي آغا زاده صالح

'Work of the owner, Salih, son of Manav Ali Agha."

In the cartouche on the spine is the date

(سنة ٢٤١(١

"Year (1)241 (1825-6)"

As is often the case with the Ottomans, the initial 1 for the millennium is missing

[G. Mansfield]

Thank You Kwiatek for the translation and everyone else for the positive feedback. This item is one of the nicer ones in my collection. As per request Kwiatek, Attached is a closer image of the cartouche with writing. I hope this helps! Many thanks in advance.

Best,
-Geoff

[kwiatek]

That's much clearer. The initial reading of the owner's/maker's name as "Manav Ali Agha-zade Salih (Salih, son of Manav Ali Agha)" is correct

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Dear Kwiatek,

I would just like to say how much your very hard work is being received and how important it is to have such excellent translations delivered at almost the press of a button … Your translations are superb. Not only that but you fully appreciate the nuances in Arabic and how it plays out across neighboring regions. Thank you very much.

[ariel]

Totally naive question: isn’t “ Zade” Persian?

[kwiatek]

Thank you Ibrahim, I am sure you will pick up on a lot of mistakes too, so please correct them when you notice them!

In answer to Ariel's question, yes zade is Persian, but it's also found in Ottoman Turkish. Probably a good third of Ottoman Turkish vocabulary has a Persian origin.