Interesting swords.
 

These two just ended. They were labelled Ottoman, 19th century.
IMHO, they are modern Indian/Pakistani.
That aside, look at the decoration of the blades: doesn't it strike you as remarkably similar and mechanically-made?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

being a techological naif, I just want to know, whether such process is possible and whether you are aware in it's use in blademaking?

I was wondering the same thing. The second one is modern for me without question, but the first one I was wondering about the engravings - blade real but remounted recently?

Gosh, I am starting to think that things from Afghanistan and surounding countries have to be seen in the same like as stuff from China, well dodgy.

I go with modern for both. There have been quite a few of these pieces in the last year or two.

Ian.

The engraving looks hand done .
I don't think that one can get results like those by etching .
Possibly the pieces are etched first then hand engraved ; that would speed up the process .

I hate those conical points ! :mad: