Ottoman hancer / court dagger?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by estcrh

I am not sure if the Ottomans had swords of this type, I have only seen this shape as a dagger. One question I do have is how far back can the large I shaped hilt type be traced back, if the blade could be 18th century was this type of hilt also used during this time period?

I think this form of hilt goes way back...certainly a couple of centuries. See https://www.google.com/search?q=hist...pBLfuIAWqmM%3A for other examples.. The word Khanjar from which came Hancer appeared in weapon descriptions in India / Persia in the 16th Century. (According to the Met.) The blade style is Ottoman probably made as such and not reclaimed off a broken sword however for such weapons it was common that winner takes all and after a battle weapons were recycled from those taken from enemies on the battlefield... but as I say this form was an Ottoman type..