Yatagan Sword

Yatagan is the name of  an Ottoman short sword or sabre used from mid- 16th to late 19th century. First of all it was made for close combat in a cramped battlefield where there wasn't much space to swing your arm to gain momentum. It could be used to thrust into the enemy with a quick move at the height of the belly much like the Italian gladio used by Roman legionnaires. Yet better i presume it gave an advantage when trying to slash an enemy from sideaways and up to down without the user having to open his arm. A small raising of the sword would give it enough momentum because of the up the tip position of the belly of the blade like a "falcata". And the curvature bending in on the enemy may give an advantage to the user making it slightly hooky and easy to reach the opponent.

Also the short length made it convenient to carry it with a sash by the side of the user during long marches.

19th Century Ottoman Yatagans
Source: Wikipedia