Bosnian Bichaq
Bosnian Bichaq
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Austro- Hungarian Empire
Late 19th century (ca.1880 - 1900)
Steel, brass, bone, wood
Blade: 24,8cm
Hilt & Blade: 37,1cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 37,5cm
Collection Date: 2016
Collection Number: 71
Ex. Late Lew Waldman Collection: Fayetteville, New York, USA (2016)
A bichaq of Bosnian origin from Sarajevo during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the annexed territory of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century. These type of knives were often sold as souvenirs to Ottoman officers and were also used as gifts or for ceremonial display by local officers and dignitaries between 1882 and 1916. Knives of this kind are fairly common coming in a large variety of styles. Major production centers were Sarajevo, Foca, and Mostar.
The steel blade is single- edged, curving upward slightly near the point. A stamp on one side of the blade associated with Sarajevo production. The spine having linear and zig-zag lines. Brass bolster and backstrap with linear and zig-zag stippling patterns.
The hilt is carved from two bone scale grips that are riveted in place by three iron nails. Decorated with a patterned series of circular brass inlays and brass nails. The flared crescent shaped pommel having brass spherical beads on the end. The sheath having a wooden interior, covered in a brass sheet with linear and stippled zig-zag decoration. A larger example than the average, complete in great condition.
[1] https://vikingsword.com/lew/w0008/w0008.html