Bulgarian Yatagan Akkulak Traditional Knife

Bulgarian Yatagan Akkulak Traditional Knife
Used from the mid 16th until the late 19th century in the Ottoman Turkey, when Bulgaria was under the yolk of the Ottoman Empire. As to the age of this blade, is anyone's guess but certainly the knife itself could be at least 100 years old. it is unclear whether the previous owner -deceased (not the seller) made it or he refurbished it (as in the scabbard?). The seller explained that the owner was in fact a black smith in the area of 

Bulgarian traditional  knife, a Yatagan, it's a sort of sword come machete come parang LOL! 

Today I purchased this beauty! I figure it is at least 100 years old plus. Originally obtained from a now deceased blacksmith/knife maker. He had 5 in his house at the time of clearing the house took place, this is one of the 5. it is a Bulgarian Yatagan featuring a dark walnut grip, 

Beautiful dark grained walnut scales featuring a traditional flared design.

The blade smith made some sort of crude engravings upon the tang both upper and lower  and on the hilt as seen above. Two parallel lines and an X. Or is it 2 10 2 10 2????

convex ground and slight recurved blade, approximately 8mm thick spine, 

It's a huge knife, measuring 36cm or 14" long! and sporting a 8mm or 0.31 inch thick spine!

Look here and we see a recapitulation of this very old design motif.

 

and full tang. 

I have no idea of what the HRC is however, after working on the edge (it was fairly sharp) I soon realised that my ceramic Fälkniven stone was not cutting much metal at all; I figure the HRC on the edge is at least 60 or close to it if not a bit above! It is clear it has been "refurbished" over the years (on the scabbard). The literature says that the spines were made soft and the edges tempered to a hard edge (typical he for a large sword knife-otherwise it would be too brittle).

The scabbard appears to have ben "refurbished" as there is evidence of soldering with a tin compound around the carry loop. The wood that the scabbard is made from is not a hardwood but some softwood species, stained with an unknown material. There is evidence of past insect infestation (some wood boring beetle holes no longer active).

and maybe it is much older but the refurbishment is of "recent times" as I see evidence of metal work not prevalent over 200 years ago.

More can be found here on Yatagans