Greek Yataghan, North African Use?
 

To me this yataghan looks like it was made in mainland Greece or Crete based on the bolster and the blade. I do not see a date, but these blades with the star of Solomon and inscriptions surrounded by this kind of floral engravings tend to date from the late 18th and early 19th century. What intrigues me is the lanyard attached to the hilt - it looks like something from the Maghreb. Is it possible that this was at one point exported to Algeria for use there?

Teodor

I would agree with Crete and possibly Greece. The lanyard style is one which is similar to a lanyard tassel that I have on my Turkish kard.

If my opinion counts:

Your yataghan might be Greek but it might be Turkish too.
Your lanyard is Ottoman Turkish to me.

Regards,
Kubur

Thank you Gentlemen, I have my answer on the lanyard.

Teodor

Hi there is big similarity with yataghans from Algeria and the ones from the Greek islands. They copied the Algerian style as well the Algerian dress. So this lanyard reminds buttons from Cretan dress, but this in turn is very similar to the Algerian as well with some other areas of the ottoman world.This is becase the Barbary states were superpower at that time, and also because Algerian troops were used as invading troops during the Venetian-Turkish war that led to the conquest of Crete.

Thank you Eftihis, I was so focused on Ottoman troops going to Algeria that I had not considered the possibility of troops from Algeria going the other way.