ethno sword cane with curious handle

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by Sajen

It's from Yemen, the silver work is typical. Very nice item, I had never seen something similar before.

I've seen similar ornaments presented by an Afghan gentleman, who attributed them as Kazakh, though I was given to understand that the origin was Central Asian, rather than from the Caucasus.

[Jim McDougall]

Not too long ago I posted on the well known sword canes, sticks of Victorian England which became popular as weapons of self defense for gentlemen. However these met with a great deal of consternation regarding the strict codes of gentry, deeming them unbecoming as 'hidden' weapons.

It seems these became popular among officers during the British Raj in India, though it is unclear exactly what influences may have diffused the idea into that context, or from which ethnic or regional factors might have done so.

It seems fairly well known that concealed dagger blades were present in various Indian weapons such as war hammers, battle axes etc. and these features were also known in Persian arms so presence throughout Central Asia and the Middle East as well as the Orient seem likely.

Whatever the case, the popularity in Europe seems to have been largely from influences in India.

These are most intriguing weapons, but difficult to acquire or transport due to legal issues as concealed weapons.

This example is British, with Solingen rapier blade (Toledo's were highly favored due to British fascination with fencing from mid 19th c) and termed a Malacca (for the source of the bamboo used for sheath).

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Bob A

I've seen similar ornaments presented by an Afghan gentleman, who attributed them as Kazakh, though I was given to understand that the origin was Central Asian, rather than from the Caucasus.

Hello Bob,

I think that it is rather clear that we see the same silver work here.

Regards,
Detlef

[francantolin]

I found these yemeni swords,
One with a look-like finial sphere pommel,
The others who shows a silver strip decoration all around
the scabbard typical of Yemen or Oman work.
The last ́’providencé’ picture coming from a 2008 thread about yemeni swords
showing a sword with crossed wires decorations on the scabbard.

I wonder in wich bad wet conditions ́’miné’ was kept for turn the silver wires all ́’flash’́ green; low grade silver with a lot of copper ?

[francantolin]

Omani kattara sword with same crossed silver wires,
Sure , embroded, other craftmanship....
and a kattara with long thin blade ( total length of the sword indicated: 93cm)

Always looking for omani /yemeni sword , I found, the picture of this ́’sword dancer’́
Where from ?.
Similar sword/ swordstick I find, hilt with ''ears’́ must not be a yatagan

[werecow]

Always looking for omani /yemeni sword , I found, the picture of this ́’sword dancer’́
Where from ?.
Similar sword/ swordstick I find, hilt with ''ears’́ must not be a yatagan

Why must it not be a yatagan? As far as I can see that is a yatagan. It has the typical curvature, the typical grip and the right length.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by werecow

Why must it not be a yatagan? As far as I can see that is a yatagan. It has the typical curvature, the typical grip and the right length.

I'm inclined to agree, the configuration of the 'ears' and overall appearance of the blade seems indeed yataghan, and Ottoman presence in Arabian regions was of course well established. The use of the yataghan form there is somewhat anomalous.