Bosnian Bichaq

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 · 1st July 2007, 08:02 PM

It seems that my example is the only one with a different mark.

All the examples shown , as far as I can tell, have a hardened edge; they are sturdy workmanlike knives.

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 · 10th October 2020, 11:18 AM

some further info on the Bosnian Bichaqs:

The handles are bone with ornamental inlay work of bronze and glazed ceramic. The graceful blades are single edge, mostly powerful 5 mm (3/16 ”) thick at the spine, - stout and sturdy carbon steel blade with an upswept needle-pointed tip with file work to the thick sphave one.

They have generally a tapered full tang - tapering the tang gives the knife a balance that can't be achieved any other way. Tapering the tang gets rid of unnecessary weight that you don't need. It also is considered the sign of a seasoned knifemaker; tapered tangs are associated with hand-forged blades.
Some do One side of the blade display a motif of "Kilij" (Turkish saber)

Ref.: "Islamic Weapons. Maghrib to Moghul" , by Anthony C. Tirri, p. 168

Added a picture of an ( rare ) example without the circular ornamental inlays

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...

gp · 8th November 2020, 01:39 AM

just bought a bichaq at an auction with this description:

"Unusual 19th C., Asian Indonesian Malaysian Dagger Knife with Carved Horn Grip & Silver Mounts. Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 10 1/2" Blade Length : 5 1/4"

Obviously it is a Bosnian Bichaq, a non K.u.K / non Habsburgian one but dated prior the occupation by Habsburg Austria , so before 1878.
My guess would be around 1850 /60 based upon exhibition pieces in Sarajevo I saw.
Now I shall have to wait until it arrives and clean it

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...

28th June 2007, 01:09 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	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	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,660	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	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Here is my example of Bichaq and a close-up of the maker's mark. Attached Images

28th June 2007, 03:11 PM	#5
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

17th September 2020, 02:21 AM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	I have seen so far not another mark like this one. Attached Images

27th June 2007, 06:48 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	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	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Thank you folks. Very helpful. And thanks for the sharing for comparison. I just love green bone and ivory!

1st July 2007, 08:02 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	It seems that my example is the only one with a different mark. All the examples shown , as far as I can tell, have a hardened edge; they are sturdy workmanlike knives.

18th September 2020, 06:19 AM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Ooooo............that's interesting!

10th October 2020, 11:18 AM	#10
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 823	some further info on the Bosnian Bichaqs: The handles are bone with ornamental inlay work of bronze and glazed ceramic. The graceful blades are single edge, mostly powerful 5 mm (3/16 ”) thick at the spine, - stout and sturdy carbon steel blade with an upswept needle-pointed tip with file work to the thick sphave one. They have generally a tapered full tang - tapering the tang gives the knife a balance that can't be achieved any other way. Tapering the tang gets rid of unnecessary weight that you don't need. It also is considered the sign of a seasoned knifemaker; tapered tangs are associated with hand-forged blades. Some do One side of the blade display a motif of "Kilij" (Turkish saber) Ref.: "Islamic Weapons. Maghrib to Moghul" , by Anthony C. Tirri, p. 168 Added a picture of an ( rare ) example without the circular ornamental inlays Attached Images Last edited by gp; 10th October 2020 at 09:48 PM.

8th November 2020, 01:39 AM	#12
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 823	just bought a bichaq at an auction with this description: "Unusual 19th C., Asian Indonesian Malaysian Dagger Knife with Carved Horn Grip & Silver Mounts. Total Length (inside scabbard if present) : 10 1/2" Blade Length : 5 1/4" Obviously it is a Bosnian Bichaq, a non K.u.K / non Habsburgian one but dated prior the occupation by Habsburg Austria , so before 1878. My guess would be around 1850 /60 based upon exhibition pieces in Sarajevo I saw. Now I shall have to wait until it arrives and clean it Attached Images Last edited by gp; 8th November 2020 at 02:14 AM.