Does anyone know anything about or know where I can get an image of a Turkish "Pala" or "Balas" or "Yataghan" sword. The only info I have managed to find out is that it is a long dagger used mainly for thrusting rather then cutting, but that's it.

Hi Maria,
There are a few nice pictures in these threads,

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...p;start=20

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...t=yataghan

Balas i'm not familier with,
Some of the picture gallerys on this site have more pictures too,

Thanks for those links Lee, I've not noticed them before.

Maria, there are lots of pictures of Turkish, Persian and Indian weapons at http://www.oriental-arms.com/.

Like these:
http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=1990
http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1103
http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=1249

thanks for that it's good stuff.
Lee - I think the word Bala is just a different version of Pala, at least that is what the Met Museaum of Art suggests.
I was made to believe these swords have unusual blades as they part iron and part steel and , the pommel is also unusual as it is flattened into "wings" to prevent it from slipping in combat which made this sword appealing to me, the links ceretainly confirmed what i had been told. I looked into Ebay to see if they had any and the only one I saw was for $99 and was not attractive, the images I have seen so far lead me to believe that the superior swords where very intricate and bejewelled and proably way out of my price range, ah well one can but dream!!
thanks for the help