The museum holds what are considered the two earliest Ottoman artefacts: the saber of Kose Mihal, an early Eastern Roman traitor to the Ottoman cause and a companion to Osman Ghazi, as well as the helmet of Orhan Ghazi, Osman's son. I am yet to find an explanation as to what links the sword in question to Kose Mihal.

The collection is immense, even if some of the items have questionable attributions, like the Sudano-Egyptian sword we discussed in a separate thread.

Speaking of questionable attributions, there is a group of karabela hilted swords attributed to the Balkans, but I am very certain they are Arab.

The Mameluke swords from Unsal Ucel's book were my favorite things in the museum.

There are a lot of amazing things, but a matchlock with revolving barrels is as unique as it gets.

There are a lot of great museums with arms and armor around the world, but I doubt there is another with so many really beautiful Islamic arms.

After the halls with edged weapons from all corners of the Ottoman Empire, the halls with armor start.

Among the armor, there are a number of European helmets, most probably taken as trophies.

Of course, there is a lot more Ottoman armor, including chamfrons - even one for a camel.

There are also some nice shields on display, including a beautiful big Abyssinian one.

It was interesting to see quite a few African items in the museum, including some really nice shields, even if the emphasis is understandably on Ottoman items.

The armor halls are followed by a couple of halls, dedicated to firearms.

Here too some of the guns are European, including an unusual 8-barrel English one.

Among the firearms, there are a couple of cases with accessories such as powder flasks, holsters, etc.

If you like Islamic and especially Ottoman long guns, well, they certainly have some nice ones at the Askeri.

More guns, ranging from a wheellocks Winchesters.

The last few halls on the first floor have some smaller artillery pieces, along with bows and arrows.

The first floor ends with some javelins and spears. The second floor is dedicated to the post-Ottoman period and the formation of the Turkish state and army, and as such there are fewer ethnographic items here.

Still, there are some and so it is worth it going up the stairs to look for them.

This is the end of the journey through the museum, finishing with some of the bombards in the courtyard. Hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you very much for the tour.

Best regards, Yuri

Fantastic. Thank you.

thank you very much / "çok güzel arkadaş !
most beautiful pictures