Black Sea Yataghan / Laz Bichaq - A Rare Pirates Sword

The black sea yataghan is a short, recurved sword from the regions currently known as Northern Turkey and Georgia. This is a 19th century example, in the classical form.

It's native name is "Laz bıçağ,", or "Laz Knife", and it is named after the Caucasus Lazi people of the coastal regions bordering the Black Sea.

The Lazi people were very known to be a seafaring people, and are remembered as successful pirates, so much so that in 1806, Laz pirates conducted an invasion of Oinoi (Trk: Unye). Other places were also attacked, such as Rezovo. This attack lead to the populace relocating to Sinope, Sinemorets and other nearby areas.

This style of sword, being relatively short and with good cutting authority, was well suited to use on small and medium sized boats, such as those used by Lazi pirates.

Many of these were made in Sürmene, Turkey, and there is still an active modern knifemaking industry in the region, though they make kitchen knives mostly.

The Laz Bichaq has a distinctive style of "cresent" shaped pommel, made of cow horn. These are very fragile, and often broken on extant examples.

This example also retains the leather grip with wire wrap, which is often missing on antiques.

The short, terminated fullers and dotwork decoration are typical of these swords, and are often paired with brass inlays, which have oxidised and turned a little green on this example.

Likewise, the spines are almost invariably decorated in dotwork, and this example reflects that.

Overall length 92cm, blade length 72cm.