Black Sea Yataghan on ebay

[werecow]

Assuming it's not literally the same sword, this one (pic 1) looks quite similar. Description on tumblr: "A rare Laz Bichaq, Black Sea area, ca. 1877, from Oriental Arms."

EDIT: And added what seems to be another one (pics 2-6) from that site:

This unusual and rare sword is coming out of our private collection. Its origin was a point of debates to many collectors and researchers of bladed weapons. It was considered Caucasian, Kurdish, North African, Turkish, Malayan as well as other origins. It is however most probably coming from North / East Turkey and was found in Caucasian areas as well. It is best known as Black Sea Yatagan . It is charectarized by the deeply re-curving blade and bifurcated pommel. This one has a heavy 25 inches blade, almost ½ inch thick at its base, and forged from laminated steel. The blade is decorated with a typical punched circles and dots design. The grips are horn and the grip strap is brass. Total length 32 inches. Good condition, with only minor pitted spots on the blade. No scabbard. A very unusual find.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by werecow

Assuming it's not literally the same sword, this one (pic 1) looks quite similar. Description on tumblr: "A rare Laz Bichaq, Black Sea area, ca. 1877, from Oriental Arms."

EDIT: And added what seems to be another one (pics 2-6) from that site:

There is of course remarkable similarity in a number of these, these are not 'one off'. Artzi's descriptions have always been remarkably accurate and insightful, so very reliable. When Gerhard Seifert described these in 1962 ("Schwert Degen Sabel") he drew a certain comparison to the Kabyle flyssa from Algeria due to the deep bellied blade and needle point but only at applying degree of similarity.

It is odd that the flyssa had similar span of presence, seeming to have begun appearance in Kabylia around early 1800s (first record noted c. 1827) and also seems to have waned after 1870s as far as the form most familiar. Basically while not really connected, both have similarities and both are 19th century forms.

[Jim McDougall]

Here are pics of the example I have with purple velveteen scabbard.
The pages from Seifert (1962)
The plate from "A Magyar Faji Vandor", J. Vichy. Budapest, 1897
As noted in "Origins of the Shashka" (Jacobsen & Triikman, 1941)
One of these variations with closer cleft pommel rather than 'horned', and pics of one with the distinct style scabbard.