Bosnian Bichaq

katana · 27th June 2007, 05:15 PM

Very nice functional knife....I like it.

Although the handle decoration suggests its .....Radioactive

Double the lethalness

Nice job on the scabbard, is it brass plate over wood? How did you emboss/engrave the brass?

Battara · 27th June 2007, 06:48 PM

Thank you folks!

The scabbard is brass sheet over wood. I chased and stamped the brass with tools in a similar manner as they did and in the same style. I also soldered the brass sheet to itself on the other side (which the original would also have been) with a final soft soldering of the tip.

I also cleaned up the hilt - it had some kind of white hard adhesive on parts of it.

Battara · 28th June 2007, 01:09 AM

Here are some other pictures including the maker's mark in the form of a shamsir. I see this on other Sarajevo blades of this period. Anyone know who this maker was?

TVV · 28th June 2007, 03:59 AM

I do not think there was only one maker. To me it appears that this symbol was copied in a manner similar to the eyelashes marking, and was more of a stamp of quality. On these knives certain inscriptions seem to have been copied as well. For example I have a bichaq with an inscription "Sarajevo 1894", which is almost identical to one in a small book issued by Hermann-Historica called "Dolche und Messer aus dem Persischen KulturRaum". Note the 4th dagger from the left.
Regards,
Teodor

Rick · 28th June 2007, 02:46 PM

Here is my example of Bichaq and a close-up of the maker's mark.

Lew · 28th June 2007, 03:11 PM

Here are 3 from my collection. Two have the scimitar mark the little one is dated 1893.

Lew

Battara · 1st July 2007, 07:54 PM

Thank you folks. Very helpful. And thanks for the sharing for comparison. I just love green bone and ivory!

Rick · 17th September 2020, 02:21 AM

I have seen so far not another mark like this one.

Battara · 18th September 2020, 06:19 AM

Ooooo............that's interesting!

gp · 1st November 2020, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I have seen so far not another mark like this one.

I have seen a similar knife around but in a much better version or at least the decent standard Bosnian version with the kilij mark.
Please compare the handle / grip.

I can not recall exactly where but your mark rings a bell as I have seen it around before... could be as a Turkish or rather Ottoman one.
Could be that a local craftsman copied the Bosnian one and marked it with the Turkish / Ottoman cresent...

aspalathos · 5th June 2020, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Here are some other pictures including the maker's mark in the form of a shamsir. I see this on other Sarajevo blades of this period. Anyone know who this maker was?

Hello that letter f mean Foča, its name of old town ,where knifes like that was made.In that time they are produced on many places but Foča and Sarayevo was No1...

27th June 2007, 05:15 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Very nice functional knife....I like it. Although the handle decoration suggests its .....Radioactive Double the lethalness Nice job on the scabbard, is it brass plate over wood? How did you emboss/engrave the brass? Attached Images

28th June 2007, 01:09 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Here are some other pictures including the maker's mark in the form of a shamsir. I see this on other Sarajevo blades of this period. Anyone know who this maker was? Attached Images

28th June 2007, 03:59 AM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	I do not think there was only one maker. To me it appears that this symbol was copied in a manner similar to the eyelashes marking, and was more of a stamp of quality. On these knives certain inscriptions seem to have been copied as well. For example I have a bichaq with an inscription "Sarajevo 1894", which is almost identical to one in a small book issued by Hermann-Historica called "Dolche und Messer aus dem Persischen KulturRaum". Note the 4th dagger from the left. Regards, Teodor Attached Images

28th June 2007, 02:46 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Here is my example of Bichaq and a close-up of the maker's mark. Attached Images

28th June 2007, 03:11 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Here are 3 from my collection. Two have the scimitar mark the little one is dated 1893. Lew Attached Images

27th June 2007, 06:48 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Thank you folks! The scabbard is brass sheet over wood. I chased and stamped the brass with tools in a similar manner as they did and in the same style. I also soldered the brass sheet to itself on the other side (which the original would also have been) with a final soft soldering of the tip. I also cleaned up the hilt - it had some kind of white hard adhesive on parts of it.

1st July 2007, 07:54 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Thank you folks. Very helpful. And thanks for the sharing for comparison. I just love green bone and ivory!

17th September 2020, 02:21 AM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	I have seen so far not another mark like this one. Attached Images

18th September 2020, 06:19 AM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Ooooo............that's interesting!