An indian shamshir with a persian blade

[rand]

Originally Posted by kai

Sounds like a quality blade!

Can someone comment on the quite rough inlay done for the cartouche?

Regards,
Kai

As others have said, it is not "rough", the gold was originally thicker and was higher than the blade, it would have covered where the horizontal cuts are. It has worn off with time and scabbard wear to the wootz surface level. The style of the craftsman was most likely a Persian technique of inlay.

rand