Language: Turkish

Description

Bichaq literally means "knife". In antique arms circles the term usually refers to a knife shaped somewhat like a yatağan, the sword with recurved blade that was carried by military men (infrantry) and wealthy civilians in the Ottoman empire.

Bichaq often come in a silver scabbard, usually with repousse work. Like the bigger yatağan, the bichaq also has a grip which is "eared". The grip is either made entirely of silver, of has scales of bone, ivory, horn, wood or precious stone. Many bear a date.

Bichaq

A nice example of an Ottoman bichaq with silver niello mounts and golden inscriptions to the blade.
It bears inscription dating it to Hijri 1290, (1873/74 A.D.) and the maker's name Mustafa.

 

Ottoman bichaq

An Ottoman Balkan bichaq with silver scabbard and bone grip scales.
This piece bears a date 1227, corresponding to 1811-12 A.D.

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Fine German hunting flintlock with captured Ottoman barrel.

€16000,-

Its hilt overlaid with thick silver, then fire-gilt.

€2400,-

A what? Yes exactly. An extremely rare piece, the only example I am aware of in published collections at…

€7500,-

With an inscription alluding to it having belonged to the son of Tipu Sultan.

€2500,-

Of steel construction with gold overlay. Of a type produced in Rajasthan in the early 1800s.

€4300,-

All the designs being true inlay, with almost no losses.

€3800,-