Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

CharlesS · 30th June 2007, 01:33 PM

This is certainly 'faux wootz'. Either acid etched or "waxed".

I have never understood the mentality of that(either) process as it was so time consuming and labor intensive, and often was a way of saying, "I can't afford real wootz". It seems the real thing would have actually been cheaper, but I suppose that labor and time were two things not in short supply in 19th Cent. India.

One thing for sure...it certainly shows the status and importance of a "wootz look".

Now, I have a question....I have heard these sorts of swords referred to in a variety of different ways. Is this a 'patissa' with a 'khanda' hilt, or is it a 'khanda' in general???

30th June 2007, 01:33 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	This is certainly 'faux wootz'. Either acid etched or "waxed". I have never understood the mentality of that(either) process as it was so time consuming and labor intensive, and often was a way of saying, "I can't afford real wootz". It seems the real thing would have actually been cheaper, but I suppose that labor and time were two things not in short supply in 19th Cent. India. One thing for sure...it certainly shows the status and importance of a "wootz look". Now, I have a question....I have heard these sorts of swords referred to in a variety of different ways. Is this a 'patissa' with a 'khanda' hilt, or is it a 'khanda' in general???