Khanjar in unlikely plain silver mounts

Lee · 21st September 2025, 07:40 PM

The mounts are good solid silver with some rubbed hallmarks of European appearance - hopefully someone here will recognize them. I have the sense that this was mounted for "concealed carry." The sheath and hilt have a simple locking mechanism and a small pin must be pressed on both sides to unsheath the blade. It appears that a loop on the opposite side of the sheath has been lost.

I'm interested in opinions on the origin of both the blade and the mounts.

Oliver Pinchot · 22nd September 2025, 05:00 PM

Hi Lee,

This is from the Ottoman Plain Tradition, during which silver (also copper and brass) was permitted its moment. This period lasted about 50 years in the latter 18th century. I have seen Venetian and Epirot examples as well. Nice one.

Battara · Yesterday, 05:44 PM

Very nice example.

Lee · Today, 01:32 AM

Thank you Oliver! I must confess that I was totally ignorant of this movement in Ottoman art.

A current thread about stories accompanying items from dealers brought to mind that when I bought this, decades ago, I was told the marks were Bavarian import marks. Sure enough, following several internet searches I find the larger of the two marks is a variation on the Munich coat of arms (better with a jeweler's loupe than any photo I can capture) and would be used with another mark for origin on an imported silver item before 1886. Probably an interesting story there, definitely now lost.

21st September 2025, 07:40 PM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 952	Khanjar in unlikely plain silver mounts The mounts are good solid silver with some rubbed hallmarks of European appearance - hopefully someone here will recognize them. I have the sense that this was mounted for "concealed carry." The sheath and hilt have a simple locking mechanism and a small pin must be pressed on both sides to unsheath the blade. It appears that a loop on the opposite side of the sheath has been lost. I'm interested in opinions on the origin of both the blade and the mounts. Attached Images

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22nd September 2025, 05:00 PM	#2
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 469	Hi Lee, This is from the Ottoman Plain Tradition, during which silver (also copper and brass) was permitted its moment. This period lasted about 50 years in the latter 18th century. I have seen Venetian and Epirot examples as well. Nice one.

Yesterday, 05:44 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,333	Very nice example.

Today, 01:32 AM	#4
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 952	Thank you Oliver! I must confess that I was totally ignorant of this movement in Ottoman art. A current thread about stories accompanying items from dealers brought to mind that when I bought this, decades ago, I was told the marks were Bavarian import marks. Sure enough, following several internet searches I find the larger of the two marks is a variation on the Munich coat of arms (better with a jeweler's loupe than any photo I can capture) and would be used with another mark for origin on an imported silver item before 1886. Probably an interesting story there, definitely now lost.