Opinion on an unusual dagger with wootz blade
 

Hi guys

I would like to hear your opinion on which region this dagger belongs to. I think Persia. What do you think?

Hello,

this three blade folding mechanism reminds me of indian Katars, where we can see this sometimes, too.
So I would guess northern India is also a possibility. In my opinion, the artistical style doesn't speak against that, too. What do you think?

Regards
Robin

Great idea!
I completely forgot about those "drop-downs" kathars.
Good version! But I'm confused by the high quality of wootz:
1) I can't remember any examples "drop-down" katars from high quality wootz
2) usually such a voots is considered Persian, unless of course I'm mistaken...

Best Wishes,
Dmitry

Persian swordsmiths were invited by the Moguls to serve at their court. It started at the end of 16th century and within the next 50-100 years Moghul swordsmiths fully adopted Persian techniques. Thus, the presence of sophisticated wootz pattern does not exclude North Indian origin.

Thanks for the clarification

You are welcome.

might be even longer present in the Indian hemispheres ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootz_steel

Yes, Indians did produce wootz very early in history, but their wootz pattern was limited to the " salt-and-pepper" variety.
Complex wootz patterns ( Kara Khorasan, Kara Taban) were invented and mass produced in Persia alone till ~17th century when Persian bladesmiths relocated to the Mughal courts and instructed their Indian colleagues how to produce sophisticated patterns.

Are you very sure it is wootz and not pattern welded?

I am asking because I have seen pattern welded blades with very similar pattern to the one of this dagger.

Anyhow, whether pattern welded or wootz, I would go for India as origin.

Yes Marius. I agree.

The bird heads are very similar in style to the bird heads found on the crossbars of some Indian spears.