Yatagan origin identification
 

Greetings,

I just got a yatagan as a gift from my whifes relative (antiques collector). He believes that the origin of the yatagan is serbian or monte-negrinian and gave it to me because of the fact that I come from that area of the world. He explained the facts of why he thought that it was from that area and explained that the turks decorated there yatagans differently and had turk or arabic inscriptions and so on (he also had two turkish yatagans and showed the difference). He also said that the turks did not have the black in the lower guard (forgot what the black is, and I think that is what the only guard is called). He could not say more about the weapon. I apeal to you on the forum to help out with possible identification of the yatagans origin and other facts. This is my first antique sword (or antique anything for that mater) so I appologise for any ignorance.

Your wife's relative is most probably right - this yataghan is deffinitely Balkan, and it could be from Serbia, or Monte-Negro, or Bosnia, or Macedonia, or even Bulgaria. The silver inlay on the bolster and the hilt strap. Are there any inscriptions or markings on the blade? I am confused as to what do you mean by "the black in the lower guard". When you write lower guard, do you imagine the sword with the yip up or down? Actually, yataghans as distingusihed by the lack of guard and most probably you are referring to the pommel (the ears).
This is a very nice sword, especially if it is your first and only one. :) Congratulations.

How can I become part of the family? :D

TTV, thanx for the reply. No there are no inscriptions or gravings on the blade and yes the black I am refering to is the one between the ears.

Battara, my whife still has a unmaried younger brother :)

Go for it Jose! :D

I agree that it is from Balkans. Big white bone ears talks toward that option. As the colour of the hilt itself is not a 100% identificator of provenience is that the majority of white hilted yatagans come form Balkans.

Nice piece made in the first half of the 19th century. Looking at the koftgari I would say that it is not a Bosnia/Montenegro/Serbia piece, as koftgari is not typical for the area.

Valjhun: Thanks for the reply, but I have a couple of questions.

How can you tell that?

So you would guess that it is a Bulgarian or Macedonian yatagan?

Uh....er....well.....how about adoption? :o

By the way, the black between the ears (there is a joke in there somewhere :p ) is oxidation which may be patina on steel or tarnish on silver (though I think the latter is less likely).