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
Last edited by gp; 10th October 2020 at 09:48 PM.
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