Best Arabic Shamshir/Dagger reference book, please?

[M.carter]

Originally Posted by ALEX

M.C. Thank you - You are absolutely right. This is good, and always wise, approach. As far as huge quantities of wootz blades, or any blades in fact, I think it's a reference to the past. Perhaps not too long ago it was true, BUT just like in Istanbul, NOT NOW. I've been told they were buying wootz by weight, not quality and quantity. Now it's so rare, that my friend, who recently visited Damascus, could not find ANYTHING decent or affordable there.. When have you been there?

2004 was the last time I was there, I did find two of those warehouses. One which was filled with Ottoman furniture, and within the cupboards and the drawers of that furniture were hundreds of swords, all wootz. Of all kinds, Persian wootz, Turkish wootz, and even sham wootz, all with old silver fittings, one was identical to one ive seen on Artzi's site. Most of the swords were at about 20,000 pounds, which is like $400, and that was the first price, no negotiation yet I still wonder why I didnt buy any....