Thanks Ian. I have always known of a strong trade between India and Arabia, since pre-Islam, and up until the last days of the Sultanate of Muscat and Zanzibar. According to Dr.Elgood in his book, he says that Yemeni bladesmiths referred to good blades as "Muhannad", meaning "from India", and that Indian blades were often re-worked to local styles and grooves in Yemen.
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