A North African Yataghan
Time to play the yataghan ID game again. My guess is North Africa - while not a textbook Algerian example, there are quite a few features that make me lean that way:
- Small, trilobate years;
- The hilt material is from African fauna as opposed to Arctic fauna;
- The wooden scabbard encased in brass sheet has decoration that is not of any style associated with the Balkans;
- The scabbard chape looks like it was fashioned out of a thimble and is very similar to the scabbard chape on a flyssa I have;
- The addition of a baldric loop to the scabbard is also not something one would see on a Balkan yataghan scabbard.
This does not mean the yataghan was not made in the Balkans. In fact, it probably was, but with the intent to export it to North Africa, where it received its scabbard and maybe even its hilt.
Now you know what I think about it, but I am always interested in the opinion of the other members here.
Regards,
Teodor
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