Turkish Ribbon Pattern

ALEX · 9th April 2007, 10:59 AM

The blade on top exhibits regular so-called twisted star pattern. The one on the bottom has a few rows of stars separated by very fine white horizontal lines. This is what I consider to be a good Turkish Ribbon pattern

BTW: The lower blade was restored using previously unknown to me powder mixed with water. It was given to me by a friend, and it is supposed to be from Middle Eastern mountain or river. The powder looks, feels and smells just like a plain mud/dirt, it easily mixes with water, and definitely has no acid in it. The pattern developed almost instantaneously upon application. I only have a small amount of this stuff, and have no idea where to get more. Anyone heard of this before?

Battara · 9th April 2007, 08:06 PM

Depends on the powder. I would suspect that it does contain a mild acid. Alum does and is used for pickling, but mixed with water becomes a mild acid.

Nice blade and patterns. Would you post pictures of the rest of the piece?

ALEX · 11th April 2007, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Nice blade and patterns. Would you post pictures of the rest of the piece?

Here are some pics. The straight sword with silver scabbard has an interesting stamp with Armenian name "Kevorg", in Armenian, but the blade looks Turkish. The scabbard looks Arabic, perhaps mid-late 20th Cent. I am still trying to "figure this out". I threw in another possible Armenian/Turkish sword just for size comparison:-), and a Persian sword because it looks good:-) Let me know your observations.

ALEX · 13th April 2007, 04:30 PM

Posting pictures of the stamps on the possible "Kevorg?" blade, and another stamp and writing on another, possibly Caucasian blade. The writing seems Armenian with "1890" on top. The long blade is light, thin and flexible. I'd not go to battle with it, but it has some small nicks/scars on the edge...
Perhaps Kirill will have some comments on both blades (Thanks Kirill!!!).

Jeff D · 13th April 2007, 06:08 PM

Hi Alex,

For the middle saber you might want to look at Chechnia. There is a similar example in Askhabov's Chechen Arms on Pg 46. It is described as a Mountaineer's weapon.

Jeff

S.Al-Anizi · 13th April 2007, 11:16 PM

Hello there Alex,

very nice collection you've got there

That sword certainly is a trade blade in arab mounts. The blade also is very beautiful, its quite rare to find a damascus blade in arab mounts. Though the mounts do not seem old.

As to the dirt, in my trip to Riyadh, when I was talking to that old man, Al-Suffayyan, I asked him about how to restore a wootz pattern, I mentioned the common method of acid etching, and he looked at me in a funny way. He told me he, and locals used to use a special kind of dirt, the name escapes me at the moment, which is brought from 'a far away land'. Once it touches the blade, the 'veins' as he called them, bloom out. I guess you somehow got hold of this same dirt.

9th April 2007, 10:59 AM	#1
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Turkish Ribbon Pattern The blade on top exhibits regular so-called twisted star pattern. The one on the bottom has a few rows of stars separated by very fine white horizontal lines. This is what I consider to be a good Turkish Ribbon pattern BTW: The lower blade was restored using previously unknown to me powder mixed with water. It was given to me by a friend, and it is supposed to be from Middle Eastern mountain or river. The powder looks, feels and smells just like a plain mud/dirt, it easily mixes with water, and definitely has no acid in it. The pattern developed almost instantaneously upon application. I only have a small amount of this stuff, and have no idea where to get more. Anyone heard of this before? Attached Images

13th April 2007, 04:30 PM	#4
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Posting pictures of the stamps on the possible "Kevorg?" blade, and another stamp and writing on another, possibly Caucasian blade. The writing seems Armenian with "1890" on top. The long blade is light, thin and flexible. I'd not go to battle with it, but it has some small nicks/scars on the edge... Perhaps Kirill will have some comments on both blades (Thanks Kirill!!!). Attached Images

9th April 2007, 08:06 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Depends on the powder. I would suspect that it does contain a mild acid. Alum does and is used for pickling, but mixed with water becomes a mild acid. Nice blade and patterns. Would you post pictures of the rest of the piece?

13th April 2007, 06:08 PM	#5
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi Alex, For the middle saber you might want to look at Chechnia. There is a similar example in Askhabov's Chechen Arms on Pg 46. It is described as a Mountaineer's weapon. Jeff

13th April 2007, 11:16 PM	#6
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Hello there Alex, very nice collection you've got there That sword certainly is a trade blade in arab mounts. The blade also is very beautiful, its quite rare to find a damascus blade in arab mounts. Though the mounts do not seem old. As to the dirt, in my trip to Riyadh, when I was talking to that old man, Al-Suffayyan, I asked him about how to restore a wootz pattern, I mentioned the common method of acid etching, and he looked at me in a funny way. He told me he, and locals used to use a special kind of dirt, the name escapes me at the moment, which is brought from 'a far away land'. Once it touches the blade, the 'veins' as he called them, bloom out. I guess you somehow got hold of this same dirt.