Afghan or Ottoman?

Jim McDougall · 21st November 2015, 08:07 PM

Looking forward to input on this interesting knife, which certainly has the characteristic hilt form of Afghan choora. The blade is of course nothing to do with these forms, and I cannot place exactly what it resembles.

The brass filled cartouche does seem to have a device which has some resemblance to a tughra, but I think this may be more Persian related affectation.

I have seen transcaucasian weapons, I believe of the 'Black Sea yataghan' type with these kinds of discs with this kind of design in them. I cannot recall offhand exactly where these were positioned on the blade, but did think of the feature as unusual. While the tughra was of course an Ottoman device, it was used in Qahar Persia as well, and those influences reigned heavy in Central Asia, so perhaps there may be the connection.

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21st November 2015, 08:07 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,296	Looking forward to input on this interesting knife, which certainly has the characteristic hilt form of Afghan choora. The blade is of course nothing to do with these forms, and I cannot place exactly what it resembles. The brass filled cartouche does seem to have a device which has some resemblance to a tughra, but I think this may be more Persian related affectation. I have seen transcaucasian weapons, I believe of the 'Black Sea yataghan' type with these kinds of discs with this kind of design in them. I cannot recall offhand exactly where these were positioned on the blade, but did think of the feature as unusual. While the tughra was of course an Ottoman device, it was used in Qahar Persia as well, and those influences reigned heavy in Central Asia, so perhaps there may be the connection.