Yatagan Sword Shopping

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Valjhun

Nice early Yat, Kronckew,

BUT, it is far from beeing a true Montenegro weapon.

Montenegrins in the 19th century used yatagans from the typical Sarajevo form: white, big eared hilt with full of jewels. And another type, known as Serbian (i would say Ortodox), with silver filigran hilts with big square ears, also very adorned. No matter what, the western balcans used big eared yatagans and if they got one from the turks they would rehilte it. A Karakulak is composite word from Kulah=skull and Kara=Black (archaic) and it is a synonym for a yatagan as in the 18th and 19th century the most common material for hilts was black horn.

thanks for the additional info, as noted it actually came from varna in bulgaria, which as you know is on the eastern side of the balkan peninsula rather than the western side where montenegro is, and i gather far enough apart to be culturally different and i presented it more of as an example of what could be found on ebay with perseverance and after filtering out the other junk rather than as montenegran. interesting it being referred to as an 'early yat' - any idea as to how early, a rough date would be useful as the supplier didn't have any idea & neither do i. (it's one of my favorites & feels really good in the hand like a true weapon rather than a decorator)