Mini Yatagan information, anybody seen one before?

sfenoid13 · 27th February 2017, 09:50 PM

I just acquired this miniature Yatagan which seems to have an excellent workmanship, much better in person than in pictures. Has anyone sen one before? Who makes these? How rare is it?

Kubur · 27th February 2017, 10:29 PM

I have an answer but I'm not sure you will like it...

sfenoid13 · 28th February 2017, 03:50 AM

Yes I like that a lot

)

eftihis · 28th February 2017, 09:17 AM

This is not exactly a miniature, it is a small knife in the form of a large yataghan!

sfenoid13 · 28th February 2017, 04:34 PM

Efithis, that is a beatiful knife. How big is it though? Can you place it next to a regular sized knife or a pencil and take a picture for comparison?
Where did you get yours? If it is a very small size it looks very similar to mine. Do you have others like it?

digenis · 28th February 2017, 05:31 PM

When I was in Sarajevo, Bosnia I hung out in the old bazaar area of town (looking for old weapons...). During this time I befriended many of the local antique dealers. They showed me numerous antique miniature items that would have been common items during in Ottoman times (plates, jugs, trays, vases, etc.) They claimed that these items were created as part of the "exam" the local metalworkers guild required to advance from apprentice to journeyman metalworker.

If this is true (it is the Balkans after all...) maybe the miniature yataghan shares a similar back story.

kronckew · 28th February 2017, 06:45 PM

kubar, the turks had a large corps of vicious asian guineapig infantry, so feared by the europeans that they feared to even mention them for fear that just saying their names would draw them nigh.

mustafa pasha, on his invasion of europe in 1683, was forced by circumstance to leave this corps in instanbul. this left his flank in vienna open to attack thru the forest he thought screened it. after he was defeated by the winged polish hussars who would have been easy prey for the guinea pigs in the confines of the forest. mustafa was executed a short time after his defeat for his failure.

the turks subsequently disbanded the corps, as their expansion had been thwarted. the once feared piggies faded from history, leaving a few artefacts such as above.

there are a few colonies in the remote mountainous regions of mainland turkey that remember their former glory tho. i suspect the newish yat came from there. most travellers to the region do not, however return.

it is told, however, that the pigs, remembering mustafa, flee in fear to their burrows at the first sign of wings.

Miguel · 28th February 2017, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

kubar, the turks had a large corps of vicious asian guineapig infantry, so feared by the europeans that they feared to even mention them for fear that just saying their names would draw them nigh.

mustafa pasha, on his invasion of europe in 1683, was forced by circumstance to leave this corps in instanbul. this left his flank in vienna open to attack thru the forest he thought screened it. after he was defeated by the winged polish hussars who would have been easy prey for the guinea pigs in the confines of the forest. mustafa was executed a short time after his defeat for his failure.

the turks subsequently disbanded the corps, as their expansion had been thwarted. the once feared piggies faded from history, leaving a few artefacts such as above.

there are a few colonies in the remote mountainous regions of mainland turkey that remember their former glory tho. i suspect the newish yat came from there. most travellers to the region do not, however return.

it is told, however, that the pigs, remembering mustafa, flee in fear to their burrows at the first sign of wings.

I love it lol, can't wait for the next episode.

Miguel

kronckew · 28th February 2017, 10:59 PM

in response to the turkish guinea pig corps, the west came up with the knights of the squirrel order. mounted on their trusty armoured cats, they decimated the guineapigs in their one recorded encounter. a complete infantry division of piggy (no relation to swine by the way, they after all are islamic) heavy armoured infantry was wiped out to a pig by the austro-hungarian knights squirrel and to the horror of the turks, their mounts ate the piggies. this is the main reason the trurks disbanded their units. not only do we have an ancient photo of a squirrel knight, sir acorn, but his trusty mount draco. you can see the bones of the devoured turkish infantry pig scattered about him. please do not allow children under the age of 15 to view the horror.

kronckew · 28th February 2017, 11:14 PM

one of these days, i will tell the tale of the imperial roman 34th legion, 'gallia arborranae' that frogspear-headed the roman invasion of dacia. this previously undocumented legion participated in many imperial battles. records have recntly been unearthed in romania.

sfenoid13 · 1st March 2017, 05:26 AM

I think we have seen enough of the the critters. Any other miniature blades anyone?

eftihis · 1st March 2017, 05:13 PM

Here it is in comparison. I have the feeling that it is Bosnian. No i dont have others and i never seen one like that.

sfenoid13 · 1st March 2017, 06:23 PM

That is pretty small, but still very big compared to the one I have. And I agree it looks like a Bosnian work. I asked the guy who sold mine and he says its from a Bulgarian craftsman and its made not too long ago. I am not sure where its form but I have never seen another one this small, and the quality f the work exemplary.

sfenoid13 · 1st March 2017, 08:45 PM

eftihis where did yo get yours from?

TIME · 2nd March 2017, 02:42 PM

in GREECE in some place they have such small knives for women ..

eftihis · 2nd March 2017, 05:45 PM

Dear friend, i bought it from an old collection in Italy. "Where you bought it from" is usually irrelevant with the original provenance of a 19th century weapon. Most of them are already 4th or 5th hand when we buy them today.

sfenoid13 · 2nd March 2017, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

Dear friend, i bought it from an old collection in Italy. "Where you bought it from" is usually irrelevant with the original provenance of a 19th century weapon. Most of them are already 4th or 5th hand when we buy them today.

Well that might be the case with yours, if it is that old, mine is a newly made piece. the guy who made is still alive

) That is why I asked..
If you ever want to sell your let me know.

ALEX · 6th March 2017, 12:23 PM

Some miniature arms were made as souvenirs and/or letter openers of course, some as children practice or toys and some were made with the same grade, materials and techniques as originals. They are not uncommon and quite collectible. Another form of the kind is Indian miniature paintings of arms, and better "3D" examples are very desirable and thought after. Here is a complete set of different miniature arms in original box, mid-late 20thC and relatively well made.

sfenoid13 · 6th March 2017, 03:47 PM

Alex,
I have never see these before. they look pretty nice and uniques. Did they come in the boxes? So they are a collection made by the same craftsman? Also it would be nice to see the blades if we may. Are the handles made form actual horn or is it wood? I would like to see more pictures if possible. thanks

ALEX · 6th March 2017, 04:33 PM

They came in one box, all made by the same master. Considering how small they are its pretty impressive work. All are functional with steel blades. Each is attached to the velvet backing of the box with silk threads, possibly to keep them safe, and apparently it worked.. nothing gone missing since).

sfenoid13 · 17th March 2017, 08:40 PM

They are fascinating. would you be able to show some of the blades out of the scabbards?

27th February 2017, 09:50 PM	#1
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	Mini Yatagan information, anybody seen one before? I just acquired this miniature Yatagan which seems to have an excellent workmanship, much better in person than in pictures. Has anyone sen one before? Who makes these? How rare is it? Attached Images

27th February 2017, 10:29 PM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	I have an answer but I'm not sure you will like it... Attached Images

28th February 2017, 09:17 AM	#4
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	This is not exactly a miniature, it is a small knife in the form of a large yataghan! Attached Images

28th February 2017, 10:59 PM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	in response to the turkish guinea pig corps, the west came up with the knights of the squirrel order. mounted on their trusty armoured cats, they decimated the guineapigs in their one recorded encounter. a complete infantry division of piggy (no relation to swine by the way, they after all are islamic) heavy armoured infantry was wiped out to a pig by the austro-hungarian knights squirrel and to the horror of the turks, their mounts ate the piggies. this is the main reason the trurks disbanded their units. not only do we have an ancient photo of a squirrel knight, sir acorn, but his trusty mount draco. you can see the bones of the devoured turkish infantry pig scattered about him. please do not allow children under the age of 15 to view the horror. Attached Images

28th February 2017, 11:14 PM	#10
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	one of these days, i will tell the tale of the imperial roman 34th legion, 'gallia arborranae' that frogspear-headed the roman invasion of dacia. this previously undocumented legion participated in many imperial battles. records have recntly been unearthed in romania. Attached Images

28th February 2017, 03:50 AM	#3
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	Yes I like that a lot )

28th February 2017, 04:34 PM	#5
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	Efithis, that is a beatiful knife. How big is it though? Can you place it next to a regular sized knife or a pencil and take a picture for comparison? Where did you get yours? If it is a very small size it looks very similar to mine. Do you have others like it?

28th February 2017, 05:31 PM	#6
digenis Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 48	When I was in Sarajevo, Bosnia I hung out in the old bazaar area of town (looking for old weapons...). During this time I befriended many of the local antique dealers. They showed me numerous antique miniature items that would have been common items during in Ottoman times (plates, jugs, trays, vases, etc.) They claimed that these items were created as part of the "exam" the local metalworkers guild required to advance from apprentice to journeyman metalworker. If this is true (it is the Balkans after all...) maybe the miniature yataghan shares a similar back story.

28th February 2017, 06:45 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	kubar, the turks had a large corps of vicious asian guineapig infantry, so feared by the europeans that they feared to even mention them for fear that just saying their names would draw them nigh. mustafa pasha, on his invasion of europe in 1683, was forced by circumstance to leave this corps in instanbul. this left his flank in vienna open to attack thru the forest he thought screened it. after he was defeated by the winged polish hussars who would have been easy prey for the guinea pigs in the confines of the forest. mustafa was executed a short time after his defeat for his failure. the turks subsequently disbanded the corps, as their expansion had been thwarted. the once feared piggies faded from history, leaving a few artefacts such as above. there are a few colonies in the remote mountainous regions of mainland turkey that remember their former glory tho. i suspect the newish yat came from there. most travellers to the region do not, however return. it is told, however, that the pigs, remembering mustafa, flee in fear to their burrows at the first sign of wings.

1st March 2017, 05:26 AM	#11
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	I think we have seen enough of the the critters. Any other miniature blades anyone? Last edited by sfenoid13; 1st March 2017 at 06:02 AM.

1st March 2017, 05:13 PM	#12
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	Here it is in comparison. I have the feeling that it is Bosnian. No i dont have others and i never seen one like that. Attached Images

1st March 2017, 06:23 PM	#13
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	That is pretty small, but still very big compared to the one I have. And I agree it looks like a Bosnian work. I asked the guy who sold mine and he says its from a Bulgarian craftsman and its made not too long ago. I am not sure where its form but I have never seen another one this small, and the quality f the work exemplary.

1st March 2017, 08:45 PM	#14
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	eftihis where did yo get yours from?

2nd March 2017, 02:42 PM	#15
TIME Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Messolonghi (HELLAS) Posts: 3	Some traditional customs in GREECE in some place they have such small knives for women .. Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 2nd March 2017 at 10:20 PM.

2nd March 2017, 05:45 PM	#16
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	Dear friend, i bought it from an old collection in Italy. "Where you bought it from" is usually irrelevant with the original provenance of a 19th century weapon. Most of them are already 4th or 5th hand when we buy them today.

6th March 2017, 12:23 PM	#18
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Some miniature arms were made as souvenirs and/or letter openers of course, some as children practice or toys and some were made with the same grade, materials and techniques as originals. They are not uncommon and quite collectible. Another form of the kind is Indian miniature paintings of arms, and better "3D" examples are very desirable and thought after. Here is a complete set of different miniature arms in original box, mid-late 20thC and relatively well made. Attached Images

6th March 2017, 03:47 PM	#19
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	Alex, I have never see these before. they look pretty nice and uniques. Did they come in the boxes? So they are a collection made by the same craftsman? Also it would be nice to see the blades if we may. Are the handles made form actual horn or is it wood? I would like to see more pictures if possible. thanks

6th March 2017, 04:33 PM	#20
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	They came in one box, all made by the same master. Considering how small they are its pretty impressive work. All are functional with steel blades. Each is attached to the velvet backing of the box with silk threads, possibly to keep them safe, and apparently it worked.. nothing gone missing since).

17th March 2017, 08:40 PM	#21
sfenoid13 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 134	They are fascinating. would you be able to show some of the blades out of the scabbards?