Balkans: yataghan or khandjar?
 

I have seen an intriguing comment on one of the Russian historical forums ( not specifically connected to arms and armour!).
A member, an obviously serious and knowledgeable person who spent quite some time in Yugoslavia, claims that in the Balkans , the division between yataghans and khandjars does not correspond to our customary knowledge. Per this person, khandjar is bigger and heavier, while yataghan is just a big knife. Kind of 180 degrees off the usual course.
In support, he cites old local songs, where the hero takes his khandjal in both hands, talks to the locals etc.
I am still not persuaded.
Thus, I have a question, especially to out Balkan colleagues and/or experts: were Y. and K. interchangeable or at least cross-called terms?

Hello Ariel,

In the article "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21, the author investigates the practice of taking heads in Montenegro at the turn of the 20th century. The Montenegrans are said to cut heats with a "hanzhar", a big knife. I had taken this to mean a khanjar, but that's a stabbing weapon, not slashing. Perhaps "hanzhar" was indeed interchangeable with yataghan.

Ariel,
At least in Bulgaria, the terms are not interchangeable, and the yataghan was a lot more popular - all Bulgarian haiduts and revolutionaries had either a yataghan, sometimes a kilidj, almost never a khanjar, based on photos.
When it comes to secondary weapons, the karakulaks (a local, smaller version of a yataghan) and kamas were more popular than khanjars.
Regards,
Teodor

In the recent Elgood's book there is a statement that in Albania and Bosnia-Hercegovina yataghans ( long ones, not some anemic knives!) were indeed called Handjars.
And then I looked at Stone.... Same info.
Say whatever you want about old George Cameron, but he knew his stuff! We should open him more often.