Unusual Balkan "Yataghan" for Comments

TVV · 22nd November 2011, 06:14 AM

Thank you gentlemen,

Some great observations. The pommel forks per the attached photo. The way it forks to me is much more reminiscent of yataghans, rather than a shashka though. Also, the niello decoration is found on Greek items, such as #408 from Elgood's book (which also shows that it was used until the early 20th century, the Balkan Wars and WW1). I also found a nicer yataghan with niello decorated hilt and scabbard from a Bulgarian book on weapons, currently kept in Sofia or Varna (the picture captions contradict themselves).
Perhaps the blade was indeed made for a child, but not only is it shorter than usual, but also straight with a slight downward turn, so it was not meant to ever be a sabre by whoever made it. The animals depicted on the hilt are a horse and what I interpret as a lion (it sort of looks like a rat, but lion seems more plausible). I could only find one somewhat similar hilt in the Askeri Museum book about yataghans: the shape is similar and there is a border on the outer line just like the item in question and the other niello decorated yataghan.
We are in agreement about the blade - Persian and made for export. As far as the hilt, I am leaning toward Ioannina or somewhere else in Epirus. But I would love to read as many opinions as possible.
Thank you,
Teodor

22nd November 2011, 06:14 AM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	Thank you gentlemen, Some great observations. The pommel forks per the attached photo. The way it forks to me is much more reminiscent of yataghans, rather than a shashka though. Also, the niello decoration is found on Greek items, such as #408 from Elgood's book (which also shows that it was used until the early 20th century, the Balkan Wars and WW1). I also found a nicer yataghan with niello decorated hilt and scabbard from a Bulgarian book on weapons, currently kept in Sofia or Varna (the picture captions contradict themselves). Perhaps the blade was indeed made for a child, but not only is it shorter than usual, but also straight with a slight downward turn, so it was not meant to ever be a sabre by whoever made it. The animals depicted on the hilt are a horse and what I interpret as a lion (it sort of looks like a rat, but lion seems more plausible). I could only find one somewhat similar hilt in the Askeri Museum book about yataghans: the shape is similar and there is a border on the outer line just like the item in question and the other niello decorated yataghan. We are in agreement about the blade - Persian and made for export. As far as the hilt, I am leaning toward Ioannina or somewhere else in Epirus. But I would love to read as many opinions as possible. Thank you, Teodor Attached Images