Quote:
	
	
		| 
			
				 
					Originally Posted by Richard R.
					
				 
				Do you think that your second Yataghan is to be dated before 1770? 
			
		 | 
	
	
 I had only viewed the mark on the older yataghan in abstraction previously, but if we accept the bottom line in the cartouche on the lower blade as the date 1204 (=1799, just barely 18th century) and interpret the similar region of the upper cartouche as being an 
honest date, then 1001 (=1592). 
	Quote:
	
	
		| 
			
				 
					Originally Posted by Richard R.
					
				 
				How old you think that your protobudiak is? 
			
		 | 
	
	
 I wish I knew. I am going to guess that the mounts were serviceable and in current 'style' when the spear left home, likely about a hundred years ago. When I dismounted the blade, there was no evidence of fresh rust in the mastic. However, the tang has heavy stable dark oxidation, just as I have observed in older (
koto) Japanese swords, so I suspect this spearhead was far from new when last mounted. I have tried to lure the forum community into trying to work out geography versus chronology in the styles of these lance heads and that should ultimately be possible, but I doubt there will be reliable absolute dating unless some new technology emerges.
	Quote:
	
	
		| 
			
				 
					Originally Posted by Richard R.
					
				 
				"Merry Christmas" from Switzerland! 
			
		 | 
	
	
 Vielen Dank und gleichfalls.