Yatagan The yatagan or yataghan ( from Turkish " yatağan " ) is a type of Ottoman knife or short sabre used from the mid - 16th to late 19th centuries . The yatagan was extensively used in Ottoman Turkey and in areas under immediate Ottoman influence , such as the Balkans . It consisted of a single - edged blade with a marked forward curve and a hilt formed of two grip plaques attached through the tang , the end of the hilt being shaped like large ears . The gap between the grips is covered by a metal strap , which is often decorated . The blade varies from 60 to 80 cm in length and is curved forward ( like the Iberian falcata , or Greek kopis ) , sometimes reclining backwards again towards the very end . This blade form is often referred to as being ' recurved . ' While the back of the blade is made of softer steel , the sharp edge is made of hard , tempered steel for durability . The hilt has no guard , ' bolsters ' of metal connect the grips to the shoulder of the blade . The grip plaques are typically made from bone , ivory , horn or silver , and spread out in two ' wings ' or ' ears ' to either side at the pommel ( a feature which prevents the hilt slipping out of the hand when used to cut ) . Regional variations in the hilts have been noted : Balkan yatagans tend to have larger ears and are often of bone or ivory , whilst Anatolian yatagans characteristically have smaller ears which are more often made of horn or silver . Sophisticated artwork on both the hilt and the blade can be seen on many yatagans displayed today , indicating considerable symbolic value . Having no guard , the yatagan fitted closely into the top of the scabbard ; this was customarily worn thrust into a waist sash , retained by hook . The majority of yatagans date from the period 1750 - 1860 , and from the number of plain , wooden - hilted weapons they were honest fighting weapons as well as ornate parade weapons . The more ornate examples were often worn as a status symbol by civilians , as well as military men , much in the way smallsword s were worn in 18th century Western Europe . Occasionally blades were cut down from broadswords or cavalry swords , but in general the forward - curving single - edged blade was used . Verses in gold or silver are often laid along the blade . Silver hilts mounted with filigree and coral , for example , are associated with Turkish Yataghans ; many of these are dated around 1800 , although it wasn ' t uncommon for the blades to be dated much ealrier . The most flamboyant scabbards are of wood , encased entirely with silver . By contrast , in the later half of the 1800s , the prevalence of sword bayonet s on military rifles gave rise to an entire style of mass - produced military bayonets known as " Yataghan style " . The yatagans used by janissaries ( called varsak ) and other infantry soldiers were smaller and lighter than ordinary swords so as not to hinder them when carried at the waist on the march . The town of Yatağan in southwest Turkey ( now in Denizli province ) was famous for its yataghansmithing and is considered folklorically as the birthplace of yataghans . According to legend , town was conquered by a Seljuk commander and blacksmith named Osman Bey , whose cognomen was Yatağan Baba ( Father Yataghan ) . Yatağan Baba later settled there and invented the yataghan type blades , and gave his name not only to the town , but to the weapon he invented and produced there . But today scholars indicate yataghan type blades were used by Turks earlier than 12th century . Recurve blades and " eared " handles can be traced back to Central Asia , where this type of bronze knives were found in several Bronze Age archeological sites . Etymology of the term " yataghan " is considered to come from Uzbek tribe of Kataghan or given because of the way the knife was carried in " lying down " fashion in the belt ( yatağan means the one which lies down in Turkish ) In Ottoman period , yatagans were also made in all the major cities of the Ottoman Empire , particularly Constantinople , Bursa and Filibe . One of the finest and earliest examples of the type was the weapon made for Suleyman the Magnificent , who ruled over the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 . This specimen now lies in the treasury of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul and is of particular interest since it is not only dated 1526 / 7 , but also has the name of the artist who made it , Ahmed Tekelü , on the back of the blade . The hilt is of ivory overlaid with gold delicately carved with cloudbands and scrolls . Balkan war museums display many examples dating from the decline of the Ottoman Empire ( late 19th century ) .