First Laz Bichaq in collection
 

Dear All!
On local Polish auction I bought recently Laz Bichaq – or Black Sea Yataghan. Such weapon is great rarity in Poland, this is a first one I managed to find, and probably the last one for the nearest future. I bought it for museum collection, while we’ve got here quite rich gathering of yatagans (almost 100 objects) and none like that one. So I believe it will be very nice completion.
However when it arrived I was terrified, because (as often) pictures didn’t show everything, and it looked far worse in reality.
It is probably excavated object or found in some junk room. There was no strong active corrosion, thought it is very rust-eaten, especially around the tip, which is missing and broken. The handle was very poor – one of the horns is damaged and shorter, the grip made of two, added later wooden strips, not precisely cut. One of them was loose, showing strong soilure inside. Anyway the look was horrible. Only visible brass inlay work on blade, apparent through the patina, gave some hope it will be not such bad piece in the future.

after conservation
 

I decided to entrust Museum conservation team, great people with great skills. We decided to recover handle, while the patina and small rust could be only partially removed from the blade – this will be always a little dark, I think, but the brass inlay was nice recovered. And this are the results: new leather on the handle with string beneath, and brass strip as I saw on other examples (found on this forum by the way). Hope it looks good now. In the future, the horn will be preserved, especially that corroded one, and maybe even restored thanks to know methods.
I know it is not superb piece, but if you don't have what you like, you like what you have ;)
I would like to hear your precious opinions about this weapon, thanks!

PS. Thanks to Ariel for first opinion which helped me to make decision about this one :)

PS. Sorry about pictures quality, I was in hurry.

Kudos to your Museum's Restoration Department!