Yataghans

[ariel]

These two just ended on e-bay.
The first one seems to be either French or Turkish bayonet converted into a Yataghan ; the handle looks Greek to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6536441340&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

The second one looks completely original; the quillons remind me of Piso Podang, but the handle looks Hungarian. I am not very good at bayonets; any ideas?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6536551903&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

[tom hyle]

Both equally seem to be made with the bayonet blades. These bayonets were made and used in most European countries, BTW, and in many European colonies as well. Either or both of the mountings could as easily be original mountings of these blades as remounts; the mounting of mass produced blades, perhaps especially military blades, in a variety of hilts is a pretty common European practice. The clipped tip is unusal, but seems to fit well with the Western style hilt, and may be original to the assemblage, though it certainly seems an added on feature/alteration to the blade. The use of iron guard with brass pommel seems unusual for modern Europe (it's fairly common medievally). This hilt reminds me a bit of The Sword of the Swift Winds?....