Yataghan

From SwordWiki

History of yataghan can be traced back to the Bronze age in Luristan with an almost unbroken line. Its ancestor was the short bronze sword with ear-like projections at the top of the hilt.

The yataghan was extensively used in Turkey and in areas under Turkish influence, such as the Balkans. Its history and appearance in medieval times is not known since the earliest recorded examples, made from iron, date from the 16th century.

Yataghan was really a short sword and consisted of a single-edged blade with a marked forward curve and a hilt formed of plaques attached through the tang, the end of the hilt being shaped like large ears.

The majority of yataghans date from the period 1750-1860, and from the number of plain, wooden-hilted weapons they were honest fighting weapons as well as ornate parade weapons. Occasionally blades were cut down from broadswords or cavalry swords, but in general the forward-curing single-edged blade was used. Verses in gold or silver are often laid along the blade. Various hilt materials, such as wood, bone,ivory and silver, were used. Silver hilts mounted with filigree and coral, for example, are associated with Bosnia; many of these are dated around 1800. The most flamboyant scabbards are wood, mounted entirely with silver.

Having no guard, the yataghan fitted closely into the top of the scabbard; this was customarily worn thrust into a waist sash, retained by hook.

The finest and one of the earliest examples of the type was the weapon made for Suleyman the Magnificent, who ruled over the Ottoman empire from 1522 to 1566. This sword now lies in the treasury of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul and is of particular interest since its not only dated, 1526/7, but also has the name of the artist who made it, Ahmed Tekelü, on the back of the blade. The hilt is of ivory overlaid with gold delicately carved with cloudbands and scrolls.