Help with a Yataghan please?

Ferguson · 8th August 2009, 10:24 PM

Hello friends,
Just won a Yataghan on Ebay, and I've no experience with them. I've been searching this forum, and Artzi's very fine site to see what I could learn. Won't receive it for a few days, but the auction is here. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230365189113

It looks a bit similar in general form to this one on Oriental Arms.
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=3254

So it's Turkish maybe, instead of Balkan? Any thoughts appreciated.

With regards to cleaning and preservation, I plan to use just silver polish to take the dirt and tarnish off of the silver and gold koftgari. I assume I won't be able to etch the blade without hurting the koftgari?

Thanks!
Steve Ferguson

TVV · 8th August 2009, 10:40 PM

Good job Steve, I saw this one had a reserve and I decided to pass on it, but I am glad you were able to get the reserve lifted.
The ears are big, which is characteristic of the Balkans. The bolster shape and decoration looks like a group of yataghans in Astvatsaturian's book, which she classifies as coming from Istanbul, the capital of the Empire. The blade decoration and inscriptions are also consistent with this "Stambuli" type.
Silver polish or simply alcohol may be enough to clean the koftgari, without any damage. As for etching - you can always try to rub the acid solution on the areas of the blade around the inscriptions with a cloth, instead of soaking the whole blade and risking damage. There are certain blades that are more likely than others to have a turkish ribbon pattern, and in my experience, this blade is not among them, so the chances for finding a nice pattern are low. However, with yataghans you never really know.
A great acquisition, especially considering the price.
Best regards,
Teodor

Ferguson · 9th August 2009, 12:32 AM

Thank you for the very good information Teodor,
I've much to learn.

My bid didn't meet the reserve, but the very kind gentleman sent me a second chance offer saying that he wanted the sword to go to someone who would appreciate it. I will!

Never thought I would own a Yataghan.

Steve

Photos from the auction.

Ferguson · 9th August 2009, 12:39 AM

And the rest.

ariel · 9th August 2009, 03:22 AM

Steve,
Are you sure you did not overpay?

:-)

Rick · 9th August 2009, 02:58 PM

Nice Steve .

Ariel, I think he mugged the guy .

Norman McCormick · 9th August 2009, 03:20 PM

Hi Steve,
"I'll take a dozen. Wait a minute, on second thoughts make that two dozen".

Nice going.
My Regards,
Norman.

kronckew · 9th August 2009, 03:31 PM

wow, really nice snag, bro!

looks like it's well decorated and any etching should be restricted to a small test area well away from the decorations.

M ELEY · 9th August 2009, 05:22 PM

No way! You've got to be kidding me! Fantastc buy, Steve! Have'nt had a bargain buy like that in over a decade. Very nice piece! Too bad there wasn't another for my pirate collection (Barbary corsairs and what not-

)

Lew · 10th August 2009, 12:25 PM

It was a steal bud.

Congrats

Ferguson · 29th November 2009, 11:59 AM

Thanks all. Finally got around to taking some pictures. The blade is monosteel, and a lot of the koftgari has worn off, but I'm still exceedingly lucky to have it.
Steve

8th August 2009, 10:24 PM	#1
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Help with a Yataghan please? Hello friends, Just won a Yataghan on Ebay, and I've no experience with them. I've been searching this forum, and Artzi's very fine site to see what I could learn. Won't receive it for a few days, but the auction is here. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230365189113 It looks a bit similar in general form to this one on Oriental Arms. http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=3254 So it's Turkish maybe, instead of Balkan? Any thoughts appreciated. With regards to cleaning and preservation, I plan to use just silver polish to take the dirt and tarnish off of the silver and gold koftgari. I assume I won't be able to etch the blade without hurting the koftgari? Thanks! Steve Ferguson

8th August 2009, 10:40 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,725	Good job Steve, I saw this one had a reserve and I decided to pass on it, but I am glad you were able to get the reserve lifted. The ears are big, which is characteristic of the Balkans. The bolster shape and decoration looks like a group of yataghans in Astvatsaturian's book, which she classifies as coming from Istanbul, the capital of the Empire. The blade decoration and inscriptions are also consistent with this "Stambuli" type. Silver polish or simply alcohol may be enough to clean the koftgari, without any damage. As for etching - you can always try to rub the acid solution on the areas of the blade around the inscriptions with a cloth, instead of soaking the whole blade and risking damage. There are certain blades that are more likely than others to have a turkish ribbon pattern, and in my experience, this blade is not among them, so the chances for finding a nice pattern are low. However, with yataghans you never really know. A great acquisition, especially considering the price. Best regards, Teodor Last edited by TVV; 8th August 2009 at 10:51 PM.

9th August 2009, 12:32 AM	#3
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Thank you for the very good information Teodor, I've much to learn. My bid didn't meet the reserve, but the very kind gentleman sent me a second chance offer saying that he wanted the sword to go to someone who would appreciate it. I will! Never thought I would own a Yataghan. Steve Photos from the auction.

9th August 2009, 12:39 AM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	And the rest.

9th August 2009, 03:22 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Steve, Are you sure you did not overpay? :-)

9th August 2009, 02:58 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Nice Steve . Ariel, I think he mugged the guy .

9th August 2009, 03:20 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,646	Hi Steve, "I'll take a dozen. Wait a minute, on second thoughts make that two dozen". Nice going. My Regards, Norman.

9th August 2009, 03:31 PM	#8
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	wow, really nice snag, bro! looks like it's well decorated and any etching should be restricted to a small test area well away from the decorations.

9th August 2009, 05:22 PM	#9
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	No way! You've got to be kidding me! Fantastc buy, Steve! Have'nt had a bargain buy like that in over a decade. Very nice piece! Too bad there wasn't another for my pirate collection (Barbary corsairs and what not- )

10th August 2009, 12:25 PM	#10
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	It was a steal bud. Congrats

29th November 2009, 11:59 AM	#11
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Thanks all. Finally got around to taking some pictures. The blade is monosteel, and a lot of the koftgari has worn off, but I'm still exceedingly lucky to have it. Steve