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Old 16th July 2022, 02:49 PM   #18
ariel
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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I would remove Turkey from the list of potential sources of origin.
1.The so-called Auspicious Incident ( 1826) destroyed the Ottoman Janissary corpse and initiated persecution of the remaining ones. Thus, the demand for yataghans dwindled in Turkey proper. However, manufacture of bladed weapons of Ottoman style persisted unabated in the already independent Balkans even in the early 20th century.
2. The date on the blade is given as Gregorian, not Hijjra ( Athanase’s example).
3. Numerals are European, and the crossed 7 is also very European feature.
4. The “zigzag” decoration in various forms, locations and complexity are often seen on very simple “village-produced” Balkan weapons ( see Tariq Koze “Balkan Arms”).

These considerations shift the usage of yataghans from Anatolia to “Rumelia”, ie. the European, specifically Christian, part of the former Ottoman Empire, most likely the Balkans where the Ottoman-style weapons became in fact, truly indigenous over several centuries of Turkish rule.

Last edited by ariel; 16th July 2022 at 03:53 PM.
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