A North African Yataghan

Martin Lubojacky · 14th October 2019, 11:05 AM

Years ago I bought this two yatagans (pls see picture enclosed) in Tunisian Djerba. Both of them have scabbard encased in a very thin brass sheat (I cleaned and repaired one of them also years ago, it is not too much nice ...). I am sure the brass cover of the sacabbards is of local Berber origin - you can see typical quarter foil motive (the Berbers have been living also in Libya and Tunisia - not only Morocco and Algeria; in Libya and Tunisia they differ Berbers living in the mountains and living on the sea coast ...). In the case of one of the yatagans you can see the remains of the metal handle (it may be silver ?), far-gone by the salty environs (I guess...).

Nevertheless as far as the thimble heel piece is concerned: They used to use the real thimble as a yatagan scabbard chape in Anatolia (especially T-shaped ordinary "village yatagans")

kronckew · 14th October 2019, 12:57 PM

I have a khodmi from Bou Saada that has a thimble as a chape

Looks like a common solution.

ariel · 14th October 2019, 02:32 PM

Martin,
The crenellated silver plates on the one with mitigated handle look Cretan to me.

Martin Lubojacky · 14th October 2019, 04:05 PM

Ariel,
yes, it is that Cretan style. And scabbard is North African style ... Mediterranean See, or let´s say the whole area, is simply too small....
(e.g. one of my best qamas is comming from the Libyan Missurata - just because the garrison force during Ottoman times in the city was from Caucasus ...)

motan · 14th October 2019, 04:55 PM

Hi,
I know the use of a thimble as scabbard tip from Syria. Also the use of thin, decorated brass sheet over wooden core in the scabbard and the pattern of decoration could be Syrian. The lobed pommel design is a feature of Kurdish Jambiya-like daggers, as well as some straight, Kindjal type daggers made in Syria.
Not much to go on, I admit, but I tough that because the North African hypothesis is also not based on much, I could suggest an alternative.
If, as claimed in the original TTV post, the hilt would be made from African ivory, that would definitely point to a North African origin, but to me, it looks like high quality bone, similar to that used in Cretan and other Middle Eastern daggers.

TVV · 15th October 2019, 05:20 AM

I do not think the hilt material is bone. I probably need to make better pictures.

14th October 2019, 11:05 AM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Years ago I bought this two yatagans (pls see picture enclosed) in Tunisian Djerba. Both of them have scabbard encased in a very thin brass sheat (I cleaned and repaired one of them also years ago, it is not too much nice ...). I am sure the brass cover of the sacabbards is of local Berber origin - you can see typical quarter foil motive (the Berbers have been living also in Libya and Tunisia - not only Morocco and Algeria; in Libya and Tunisia they differ Berbers living in the mountains and living on the sea coast ...). In the case of one of the yatagans you can see the remains of the metal handle (it may be silver ?), far-gone by the salty environs (I guess...). Nevertheless as far as the thimble heel piece is concerned: They used to use the real thimble as a yatagan scabbard chape in Anatolia (especially T-shaped ordinary "village yatagans") Attached Images

14th October 2019, 12:57 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,220	I have a khodmi from Bou Saada that has a thimble as a chape Looks like a common solution. Attached Images

15th October 2019, 05:20 AM	#6
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,663	I do not think the hilt material is bone. I probably need to make better pictures. Attached Images

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14th October 2019, 02:32 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Martin, The crenellated silver plates on the one with mitigated handle look Cretan to me.

14th October 2019, 04:05 PM	#4
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Ariel, yes, it is that Cretan style. And scabbard is North African style ... Mediterranean See, or let´s say the whole area, is simply too small.... (e.g. one of my best qamas is comming from the Libyan Missurata - just because the garrison force during Ottoman times in the city was from Caucasus ...)

14th October 2019, 04:55 PM	#5
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Hi, I know the use of a thimble as scabbard tip from Syria. Also the use of thin, decorated brass sheet over wooden core in the scabbard and the pattern of decoration could be Syrian. The lobed pommel design is a feature of Kurdish Jambiya-like daggers, as well as some straight, Kindjal type daggers made in Syria. Not much to go on, I admit, but I tough that because the North African hypothesis is also not based on much, I could suggest an alternative. If, as claimed in the original TTV post, the hilt would be made from African ivory, that would definitely point to a North African origin, but to me, it looks like high quality bone, similar to that used in Cretan and other Middle Eastern daggers.