New purchase.

[David R]

Hi Atlantia, I did give it a quick pickle as I mentioned in an earlier post.....thats why we think it's probably wootz. Not a classy pattern, but there is activity, a wavy grain clearer to the eye than is apparent in the photo's. That is what also brought out the differential hardening on the edge.
Overall I am happy enough with the knife, and some day I might turn up a Kurdish khanjar that needs a scabbard.

[Richard G]

David,

I agree with Atlantia. I think your knife would have been made, as it says, in India (but remember there wasn't a Pakistan then) during WW2, as a bowie knife, for sale to whoever wanted one. I have seen them about, and altho' dismissed by the "Sheffield" purists, are usually of good servicable quality

I have a similar knife showing western and north Indian traits made in Akyab in 1945.
Akyab is on the Arakan coast in Burma and when captured from the Japanese in 1945 was a significant staging post for the British, Indian and American air and land forces engaged in the later stages of the Burmese war. A possible scenario is that Abdul Qadar made this in a military workshop, as most of the materials are those you would expect from such a source, as a means of earning an extra bob or two from British or American officers. It is very sturdy and well made and wouldn't shame any officer.

Incidentally, the plan to capture Akyab was by seaborne landings preceded by arial bombardment. When intelligence was received that the Japanese had already absconded the bombing was cancelled, but the seaborne landings went ahead as they were considered a useful rehearsal for D-Day.
Regards
Richard

[A.alnakkas]

While the images provided by David R are fuzzy, I can see some waves on the blade so lets give it the benefit of the doubt ! :-)

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

While the images provided by David R are fuzzy, I can see some waves on the blade so lets give it the benefit of the doubt ! :-)

Without close-up daylight pics it's hard to tell. Those waves could be shear steel which is sometimes seen on these knives.

David, get thee outside with teh box brownie!

[David R]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Without close-up daylight pics it's hard to tell. Those waves could be shear steel which is sometimes seen on these knives.

David, get thee outside with teh box brownie!

As requested/advised, here are some further photo's taken with natural daylight. The real limitation here is the quality of the camera....my phone! However there is some pitting in the blade, and removing this would be tantamount to reshaping the blade, so I will be content with a bit more of a cleanup, and then it goes on my wall.
What is clear in these pics is the area of differential hardening on the edge, as for the grain...sometimes I look at it and am not sure, other times I am certain I can see a wootz type pattern....

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Richard G

David,

I agree with Atlantia. I think your knife would have been made, as it says, in India (but remember there wasn't a Pakistan then) during WW2, as a bowie knife, for sale to whoever wanted one. I have seen them about, and altho' dismissed by the "Sheffield" purists, are usually of good servicable quality

I have a similar knife showing western and north Indian traits made in Akyab in 1945.
Akyab is on the Arakan coast in Burma and when captured from the Japanese in 1945 was a significant staging post for the British, Indian and American air and land forces engaged in the later stages of the Burmese war. A possible scenario is that Abdul Qadar made this in a military workshop, as most of the materials are those you would expect from such a source, as a means of earning an extra bob or two from British or American officers. It is very sturdy and well made and wouldn't shame any officer.

Incidentally, the plan to capture Akyab was by seaborne landings preceded by arial bombardment. When intelligence was received that the Japanese had already absconded the bombing was cancelled, but the seaborne landings went ahead as they were considered a useful rehearsal for D-Day.
Regards
Richard

A BEAUTIFUL knife Richard.