Late 18th Century Ottoman Turkish Kılıç

A friend spotted this in an antique store, thought of me, and now it is mine.

A late 18th century (speculative dating) Ottoman Turkish Kılıç (sword) with scabbard, made from unidentified steel (will do a spot etch test with oxalic acid on arrival), with walrus ivory handle scales, and copper alloy (likely bronze) fittings on the sword and scabbard.

Photos are from the shop and I don't have it in hand yet - gonna need CITES pre-convention certificates and a certification that it is walrus for import purposes.

The blade is of a length, weight and balance suited to use either mounted or dismounted, and features a moderate curve concentrated near the middle of the blade. It has a flared yelman (false edge), which is sharp, as is the main edge.

Oxalic acid spot test etching will reveal if the blade is made of crucible steel, or not. This will inform further conservation efforts which will need to be undertaken to stabilise the existing corrosion, and also will determine is restorative efforts must be taken to reveal the pattern - if one is found.

The change in texture and color in the ivory is diagnostic of walrus ivory. here, the "core" is facing outwards, indicating the tusk was split lengthways.

The guard is bronze and features a chiselled floral motif, which is repeated on the scabbard furniture.

The core of walrus ivory is often described as "popcorn" in appearance and is formed of secondary dentine, while the primary dentine is a uniform cream color.

Scabbard is covered in treated donkey or horse hide, with embossed impressions of seeds to cause a stippled texture (Lord Egerton, Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour, 1896).

The suspension ring mount is made of cast bronze and features a floral motif.

Scabbard chape, bronze. Made of sheet bronze and decorated with cast bronze "drag", which protects the scabbard from damage while... dragging.