Real wootz or etched iron?

[eftihis]

Hallo, the designs on the blade of this shamshir, look like somebody has put acid on the blade.
When you touch the surface of the blade, you can feel the difference in depth between the lavels of the design, like some points have been eaten by the acid.
Was it a faint wootz pattern, and this was done to give emphasis, is it a visual trick on plain still, or is it just my imagination?
Is this an old technique during its working life or a "new improvement?
Also the sword, althought is sharp, looks like is not expertly made (look at the places that the steel is folded, like was not cared too much for details.)
It is a fairly heavy blade.

[eftihis]

some more photos

[libra]

Hi Eftihis.
Very nice Persian shamshir.In my opinion is an overetched sham wootz blade not acid.
All the best
Aristeidis

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by eftihis

....the sword, althought is sharp, looks like is not expertly made (look at the places that the steel is folded, like was not cared too much for details.)...

Eftihis,
This is the first time I have to respectfully disagree with you:-)
The presence of fold line in my strong opinion is a sign of quality rather than carelessness. It is an indication of a folding process and I believe it was intentionally left by a smith to showcase the fact of him folding the steel, i.e. his last fold out of many. It is still used by dealers as the advantageous "selling point", proving the manual folding. Many high quality blades do have this line present, so it's a good thing! Unlike Katana blade, which has to be spotless, the thornier fold line on shamshir blade makes it more beautiful:-)
I also agree with Aristeidis. I do not think it is acid etched, in fact - it does not look acid etched at all (i.e. false wootz), even though it is quite strange to have uneven blade surface, and the pattern indicates real wootz, perhaps sham wootz.

[eftihis]

Hi Aristeidis and Alex, thanks for your insights. Alex, a discussion without disagreement is boring, so dont worry!
i havent thought of the visible "folded evidence" as a quality evidence!
I am sure dealers can use it now to prove it is hand made, but what about the time that the blade was made when it was the only way? What would be the reason then? I guess it could have been used as evidence during the beggining of industrial revolution when the machne and the man-made blade were simultanesly on the market.
But look also at the photo where the end point of the blade is: The folding of the 2 pieces is almost seperated in 2 parts, not a very reassuring thing when you go for battle.

[ALEX]

Yes, I noticed the split at the tip, and thought of it as a chip, perhaps a result of an impact. It looks like very small inclusion, and something which could have been easily filed off if desired.
I do believe the fold lines were not regarded as defects, as most of these blades were produced prior to industrial revolution. What we perceive as imperfections now were common and they meant something we may not recognize. The fold line could have been the statement of a process, not a prove that is was hand-made as it was obvious those days. The final fold could also signify the "sacred" process of making a blade. just my personal, thoughts:-)

[ariel]

Apparently, there are some pics I cannot see: I am at a place with a very, very pre-industrial Internet connection.
I think it is a Sham wootz, so I am somewhat confused that "folding" is mentioned. Are you implying it is a mechanical damascus? Am I wrong thinking it is wootz?

[ALEX]

Ariel, the "folding" here refers to a fold line visible on top ridge of the blade - a visible line associated with the last fold of the steel. I also think it is wootz or sham wootz, and neither mechanical nor acid etch.

[mross]

Originally Posted by ariel

Apparently, there are some pics I cannot see: I am at a place with a very, very pre-industrial Internet connection.
I think it is a Sham wootz, so I am somewhat confused that "folding" is mentioned. Are you implying it is a mechanical damascus? Am I wrong thinking it is wootz?

I am with ariel on this. I do not think wootz is folded. One of the smiths can correct me if I'm wrong, but if you heat wootz to welding temperature needed to do the folding you loose the wootz pattern. Wootz as I understand has to be worked at low temperatures. So there seems to be a contradiction here. I agree it does look folded. The problem at the tip looks to be a welding flaw.