Istanbul Visit

eftihis · 8th December 2004, 02:34 PM

Hallo everybody,
I am leaving for a sort trip to Insanbul tomorrow Thursday, and i will stay there untill Monday. While i have set aside 1 day for the Askeri museum, i would like to have advise for members with knowledge of other places that would be of interest. Maybe Erlikhan and Ariel have some advise?

I would also be delighted if i could find some weapons made in Crete there, since i am researching the history of Cretan bichaq daggers and Turkey must have a lot of them.
Regards to all!

Yannis · 8th December 2004, 03:54 PM

Why dont you ask ME?

I have been in Istabul many times. Be prepared for blade overload in Askeri Museum but you have also to see Topkapi collection.

You will find some stuff for buying in the markets. In Kapali Tsarsi you will see lot of caucasian kinjals, overpriced yataghans and if you are very lucky a good kilij.

I will send you privatly my favorite seller address. Enjoy

Jens Nordlunde · 8th December 2004, 04:52 PM

Maybe, just maybe you will be able to find something on the Iron Market. I once found an axe from the middle age there.
Jens

Michel · 8th December 2004, 05:28 PM

Hi eftihis,

In february 2004, I did exactly what you are doing: ask advice from the forumnites. Yannis gave me the same advice and you should follow it.
Here are some further advices I received :

From Yannis :
Take care of your wallet and camera in Kapalitsarci (the main market) And if you want to buy anything bargain hard. First prices are always high. There, the best antique weapons dealer is Aydin Bardakci(Serifaga Sokak N°5-6). Take a look in his shop.

From Ariel I think:
If you buy an antic weapon, make sure you will be allowed to take it out of the country – they can be very strict.
Once when I was in Istanbul I bought a shashqa with Arabic inlays in gold, and to make sure I could take it out of the country I had to go to the Top Kapi Museum, where the director Mr. Yncel gave me the needed documentation. Maybe it would be an idea to ask the seller to get the necessary papers before you pay – if that is possible.

From Antiques (now Jens, I guess!).
There is one more thing I have come to think of, and that is – whenever you see a tourist kitch of a dagger – always have a look at the blade.
Years ago when I was in London, I saw, in a shop with Indian bronzes, about twenty daggers. With brand new scabbards and hilts, I did not bother to have a look at the daggers, but as my wife had good time, in my boredom I did, and what did I see. All the Indian dagger blades were 17th to 19th century – I did not buy any, and I still regret it.

Istanbul is a very interesting city, with an unbelievable mix and superposition of civilisations and cultures. Enjoy

Michel

ariel · 8th December 2004, 06:57 PM

I agree: Topkapi is a MUST!
While at Askeri, ask to see Ms. Gozde Yasar: very nice curator and was very helpful to me re. Laz Bicagi. By the way, remind her that I am still waiting on her translation of the inscription on the Yataghan blade. If she lost it, please ask her to e-mail me at:
abarkan@umich.edu
I asked her to join the Forum; please apply your charms to convince her we need her knowledge.
The Grand Bazaar was a disappointment: what was even remotely affordable (mind you, nothing less than $500!!!!!) was a fake. The good things were astronomically overpriced. Begin haggling ONLY if you intend to buy: otherwise, you will leave the place with some kind of monstrosity you never intended to get to start with.
Plenty of contemporary Caucasian scabbards (silvered brass) with dreadful blades.
Great food! I repeat: great food!
The people are remarkably nice and go out of their way trying to be helpful.
Have a great time: it is a fabulously interesting and pleasant place.

Radu Transylvanicus · 8th December 2004, 09:56 PM

1. Whenever you start bargaining you should do it by saying: Hey Arkadash (hello my friend... they love this phrase its cristal to their ears) and dont pay attention to the tag price if exist, talk to the seller and consider yourself a fool if you pay more than a half his price (as crazy as it sounds you`l see) specially to any bazaar shop.
Dont leave until you had the lamb, the tea and the halva (or any sweets!!!). Ariel, I couldnt agree more with you and by the way, nice avatar bro`, quite chic, I would expect nothing less from the fashionable dude you are !
Yeap, like others before me besides Askeri you should pay a visit to the Topkapi, anyone who does not see the Topkapy Sarayi Muzeum when in Istanbul is a fool. As touristy as it sounds it is a must, from the swords of the prophet to the ones of the sultans, do you really want to miss them ? By the way when in Topkapi, I must ask you a favour : I HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE SWORD OF STEPHEN THE GREAT, KING OF MOLDAVIA (1457-1504) PLEASE ASK AN ATTENDANT TO POINT IT OUT FOR YOU AND TAKE A QUALITY PICTURE OR MORE OF IT AND I SELL MY SOUL TO YOU !!! It is a classic European straight crusader sword taken as war booty by the sultans army from this hero king of my native country, Romania.

Andrew · 15th December 2004, 03:39 AM

This is an international forum and it is inevitable that there will be disagreements among the members. However, we discuss Arms and Armor here, and there is no place for nationalism. Please try to use restraint and tolerance. Civility is a requirement.

If a topic is one that upsets you, stay away from it.

8th December 2004, 02:34 PM	#1
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 500	Istanbul Visit Hallo everybody, I am leaving for a sort trip to Insanbul tomorrow Thursday, and i will stay there untill Monday. While i have set aside 1 day for the Askeri museum, i would like to have advise for members with knowledge of other places that would be of interest. Maybe Erlikhan and Ariel have some advise? I would also be delighted if i could find some weapons made in Crete there, since i am researching the history of Cretan bichaq daggers and Turkey must have a lot of them. Regards to all!

8th December 2004, 05:28 PM	#4
Michel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 139	Istanbul Hi eftihis, In february 2004, I did exactly what you are doing: ask advice from the forumnites. Yannis gave me the same advice and you should follow it. Here are some further advices I received : From Yannis : Take care of your wallet and camera in Kapalitsarci (the main market) And if you want to buy anything bargain hard. First prices are always high. There, the best antique weapons dealer is Aydin Bardakci(Serifaga Sokak N°5-6). Take a look in his shop. From Ariel I think: If you buy an antic weapon, make sure you will be allowed to take it out of the country – they can be very strict. Once when I was in Istanbul I bought a shashqa with Arabic inlays in gold, and to make sure I could take it out of the country I had to go to the Top Kapi Museum, where the director Mr. Yncel gave me the needed documentation. Maybe it would be an idea to ask the seller to get the necessary papers before you pay – if that is possible. From Antiques (now Jens, I guess!). There is one more thing I have come to think of, and that is – whenever you see a tourist kitch of a dagger – always have a look at the blade. Years ago when I was in London, I saw, in a shop with Indian bronzes, about twenty daggers. With brand new scabbards and hilts, I did not bother to have a look at the daggers, but as my wife had good time, in my boredom I did, and what did I see. All the Indian dagger blades were 17th to 19th century – I did not buy any, and I still regret it. Istanbul is a very interesting city, with an unbelievable mix and superposition of civilisations and cultures. Enjoy Michel

8th December 2004, 09:56 PM	#6
Radu Transylvanicus Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: 2008-2010 Bali, 1998-2008 USA Posts: 271	1. Whenever you start bargaining you should do it by saying: Hey Arkadash (hello my friend... they love this phrase its cristal to their ears) and dont pay attention to the tag price if exist, talk to the seller and consider yourself a fool if you pay more than a half his price (as crazy as it sounds you`l see) specially to any bazaar shop. Dont leave until you had the lamb, the tea and the halva (or any sweets!!!). Ariel, I couldnt agree more with you and by the way, nice avatar bro`, quite chic, I would expect nothing less from the fashionable dude you are ! Yeap, like others before me besides Askeri you should pay a visit to the Topkapi, anyone who does not see the Topkapy Sarayi Muzeum when in Istanbul is a fool. As touristy as it sounds it is a must, from the swords of the prophet to the ones of the sultans, do you really want to miss them ? By the way when in Topkapi, I must ask you a favour : I HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE SWORD OF STEPHEN THE GREAT, KING OF MOLDAVIA (1457-1504) PLEASE ASK AN ATTENDANT TO POINT IT OUT FOR YOU AND TAKE A QUALITY PICTURE OR MORE OF IT AND I SELL MY SOUL TO YOU !!! It is a classic European straight crusader sword taken as war booty by the sultans army from this hero king of my native country, Romania. Last edited by Radu Transylvanicus; 8th December 2004 at 10:07 PM.

8th December 2004, 03:54 PM	#2
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Why dont you ask ME? I have been in Istabul many times. Be prepared for blade overload in Askeri Museum but you have also to see Topkapi collection. You will find some stuff for buying in the markets. In Kapali Tsarsi you will see lot of caucasian kinjals, overpriced yataghans and if you are very lucky a good kilij. I will send you privatly my favorite seller address. Enjoy

8th December 2004, 04:52 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	Maybe, just maybe you will be able to find something on the Iron Market. I once found an axe from the middle age there. Jens

8th December 2004, 06:57 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I agree: Topkapi is a MUST! While at Askeri, ask to see Ms. Gozde Yasar: very nice curator and was very helpful to me re. Laz Bicagi. By the way, remind her that I am still waiting on her translation of the inscription on the Yataghan blade. If she lost it, please ask her to e-mail me at: abarkan@umich.edu I asked her to join the Forum; please apply your charms to convince her we need her knowledge. The Grand Bazaar was a disappointment: what was even remotely affordable (mind you, nothing less than $500!!!!!) was a fake. The good things were astronomically overpriced. Begin haggling ONLY if you intend to buy: otherwise, you will leave the place with some kind of monstrosity you never intended to get to start with. Plenty of contemporary Caucasian scabbards (silvered brass) with dreadful blades. Great food! I repeat: great food! The people are remarkably nice and go out of their way trying to be helpful. Have a great time: it is a fabulously interesting and pleasant place.

15th December 2004, 03:39 AM	#7
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	This is an international forum and it is inevitable that there will be disagreements among the members. However, we discuss Arms and Armor here, and there is no place for nationalism. Please try to use restraint and tolerance. Civility is a requirement. If a topic is one that upsets you, stay away from it.