![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,777
|
![]()
My most favourite thing right now. After cleaning, compare it to the blade of neighbouring peoples. The Shi/Havu blade is made very much in the same way as Keris. The central ridge and edges have been ground in after forging like when people damage keris edges. This acid treatment to the blade must be deliberate as in the keris. The metal in layers is most evident at the tip. I hope the pictures are clear enough to show this. The point and random sections of blade. You can always down load them and magnify them on your own computer.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,777
|
![]()
More pics-
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,730
|
![]()
Hello Tim,
great cleaning job! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,242
|
![]()
Hi Tim,
Do you think the patterning was voluntary and controlled or the random product of forging process? I was actually thinking recently of etching my trumbash to see what the steel is like. Emanuel |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,777
|
![]()
I think it is most certainly random but made with intent. The blade has clearly been given the Keris like acid treatment. It is after this process that the edges and central ridge have been ground to produce bright metal.
I have a big trumash, as you might be aware of. The blade displays lines of folded forged metal but the surface is clearly smooth and closed as opposed to etching by acid. I suspect it was originally polished. I would not etch mine but a light etch is up to you, just think you might want to move it on one day. A light etch is very different to the treatment of the Shi blade and Keris blades. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
|
![]()
Tim
Most of the older African blades were made from a form wrought iron which often looks like laminated or folded steel. I think whatever you are seeing is a random pattern. The only other possiblity is shear steel imported from Europe. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
|
![]()
Hi Tim
The blade on the left...the folding marks are as a result of repeated hammering and folding of the rough iron, which was smelted locally, to remove impurities. The pattern is random and as far as I know acid etching was not a technique used by sub-saharan blacksmiths. The blade on the right looks newer, and could have been made from imported or scrap metal. Newer productions will sometimes show traces of file marks. You may be interested in the attached extracts from the 1911 book "The Baganda", which describes their iron-working. (the Baganda are quite close to Rwanda) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 131
|
![]()
doesnt look like acid etched, more like wirebrushed forge scale finish. Nice pieces.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,777
|
![]()
I will try and show with new pics why a think of acid work. Yes I know it is random formation.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,777
|
![]()
No new pics as yet.
Colin what book is that text from? I have to say reads rather like something written by Colonel Bumcrack talk via his pith helmet. African smith did not know how to temper metal ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,777
|
![]()
I do not know if these pictures are any better, but shown next to other examples of blade they do help illustrate what I am suggesting. perhaps not acid but a deliberate process to effect the appearance of the blade. Even more so when compared to the rough working of the throwing knife blade.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|