OTTOMAN EDGED WEAPONS

 


Ottoman Edged Weapons Depending on their sizes, forms and functions edged weapons used by the Ottomans were sword, yataghan rapier, daggers (kama, hançer) and axe. Axes and halberds are edged weapons used for striking. Axes consist of wide iron or steal surface in various forms sharp on one side and placed on wood or iron metal handle carrying the main body. Axes carried with both hands were used by infantry during grapple fighting and small axes used with one hand with small handles were used by cavaliers and by marine forces during assaults using horses and alongside ship combats. Smaller versions of edged weapons used by the Ottomans were kama and ordinary dagger (hançer). Blade of a kama is both narrow and sharp on both sides (with two muzzies) and becomes sharply pointed towards the edge. Ordinary dagger on the other hand is a piercing and edged weapon which is smaller than kame with a slightly bend blade.


Bow and Arrow
Und the beginning of the 17 century the most effective long distance weapon in the Ottoman army was bow and arrow. Ottoman sultans were personally practiced archery which was a very popular sport and followed by the conquest of Istanbul in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II. Okmeydanı ( arrow-square) was used as a training centre for archers. Ottoman bows consist of a skeleton made up of maple tree covered with bullhom and tendon and bowstring upholstered on the outer surface in order to give the bow flexbility. Arrow on the other hand was made from beech wood, pine tree and straw. A pointer made from metal or bone was placed on the tip of the arrow and in order to make the allow fly in balance bird feathers were placed on the neck section. Depending on their intended use they were called range arrows, target arrows, war arrows, and practice or training arrows. When arrows were used for shooting, a thumb or archer's ring was wom as well as a wrist shield on the left wrist and a rope used to stretch the bow. Decorated with hand- carved lacquer, Ottoman arrows and bows were carried In luxuriously decorated quivers called kubur, ok kandill ( arrow lamb), tirkes or sadak.

Swords 

Ottoman edged weapons are some of the greatest examples of Turkish metal art and mastery. Particularly swords produced between the second half of the 15 century and towards the end of the 16 century were lavishly decorated. Handles were made from bone, hvory, various animal shells and reple skin. Cross- guards were usually iron in the shape of a cross with four ends decorated with botanical and geometric motives in metallic gold pieces and silver embossments. There are inscriptions on the upper surface of the blade and throughout the blade Itself. On these inscriptions, verses from the Quran and Hadiths, names of the craftsman and owner of swords, and in regards to swords crafted for Otoman sultans, verses glorifying sultans and prayers for their success were inscribed. More often than not, decorations were enriched with valuable and semi- valuable stones. Ottoman edged weapons were carried in scabbards. Classical form of the edge of Ottoman swords which consists of hit and handle is slightly bent towards the end. This slope allows the sword to be used at ease and blood fullers on it make the sword lighter. Cross- guard connecting the blade to the hit is a piece similar to a cross that protects the hand using it and prevents from sipping. Pear-shaped hit is convoluted towards the opposite direction of the blade.

Scimitar, Rapler, Yataghan 

Another form that has similar properties to sword is scimitar. The main difference between a sword and a scimitar is that blade of a scimitar widens towards the end and narrows again at the end. Caucasian Sword has its own unique form. It does not have cross-guard and its silver pommel has two sections with ear shaped ends. From profile it looks like a bird's head. Hilt and scabbard were decorated with silver pieces, engraved and embossed. Another type of edged weapon used by the Ottomans was Rapier which has both penetrating and cutting properties. It consisted of a blade, a cross- guard and a hill. The difference between a sword and a rapier is that, rapier's blade is flat, narrow and becomes pointed towards the end. Another form of edged weapon, yataghan which was completely unique to Ottomans started being used in the second half of the 16th century. Generally used by Janissaries and marine section of Janissaries, yataghan is shorter than bladed swords and the concave part is sharp. The most distinguishing feature of yataghan is its cross-guard, which is split up into two large ear-shaped parts that prevents the weapon from slipping from hand during attack.


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