T-handle Yatagan-zeybek for comments
 

Hello,

I've found this sword at flea market,
it was really, really rusty and I did all my best for clean it.
it's quite rustic, the hilt is made from wood ( part missing ) and has worm holes.
The scabbard is made from wood with brass mounts

I think it's an old turkish zeybek sword but I don't have any exact idea about age and exact use/origin
( some writings talk about greek and turkish ''pirats'' with these kind of swords )

removing the rust, the blade looks like damas ( wootz ?) , what do you think ?

Can anybody translate the engraving ? ( is it classic arabic calligraphy ?!? )

Kind regards and thank you

Francesc'o

for the engravings: old turkish calligraphy orthography

Nice for a flea market find!

Are those mounts silver or brass?

Thank you Battara !

I really like to ''dig'' in flea market and it's like a game when you buy an old rusty stuff for few money:
I supposed that under the rust there would be something interesting !!
this time it was not bad!

The scabbard mounts are from brass,
for the hilt base I dont' know: metal alloy ( maybe silver but I don't think)

Kind regards

Somebody for the blade quality or the engravings ?!
Thank's

The date on the blade is 1292, which is 1875-6.
AFAIK, calling them "pirates" might be incorrect. They were landlubbers, operating as small bands within and between villages. Kind of Turkish Robin Hood- like foot irregulars, bashibazouks ( "crazy heads") , poor as church mice and having rather uncertain relations with any organized government. They particularly distinguished themselves as guerilla forces during the Greek invasion of Anatolia in 1919.

I have never seen a Zeybek yataghan with a wootz blade or even with a Damascus one. All, in my experience, were monosteel, very thick, narrow, long, curved downwards ( no recurving), with integral bolsters, cheap horn or wood handles crudely imitating classical Ottoman "ears", and with simple decorations and cheap primitive tunkou. The work of a village blacksmith, not of a sophisticated professional armorer.

Getting one with the original scabbard is great.

Thank you Ariel for all the precious informations
and for the date transcription !!

Best wishes

Hi francantolin,

The "tunkou" is probably made of lead. The zigzag motive was allegedly common around the beginning of 20th century (and it continues till now). I think both were common at. beg. 20th. Are you sure the handle is made of wood _ Isn´t it horn ? Re. blade - I have also seen several nice blades made of mechanical damascuss (Turkish Ribbon) utilized with this "Zeybek Yathagans" (either nice old blade and crude rest of the wsord /I have one like this/ - or also something like "classy" Zeybeks, usually very long, even with silver fittings on the scabbard). Based on what Ariel writes - the blade is probably older than the rest of the sword, but, it does not look like damascus, really.
To find even "crude" T-handled yathagan with not damaged original scabbard is not easy.
Martin

Hi Francesco, Nice find, a weapon made to be used. Ariel has said it all but I would just add that the Yatagan was the primary weapon of the Zeibeks although they also carried firearms. I that they originated from the Thracians. There is loads of informat on them online. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Miguel

Hello and thank you everybody !!

I'll gently restore the wooden part of the scabbard ( small part missing ) I hesitate to leave it like that, paint it in green with old pigments
or cover it with leather. ( what do u think ? )

I'll post pictures when it will be done

Best wishes