Two Wootz Shamshirs for Comments

[Richard Furrer]

Appears to be a lap weld to me (some call it a scarf).
I have one tulwar here I got from Gavin that has a rivet and a lap weld....I liken it to both a belt AND suspenders.

On a single blade I have seen from one to three such welds . Always in wootz to wootz...I have yet to hold one that was wootz to something else (though I have heard they exist). I have seen many many with welded tangs just not all that far from the hilt.
Keep in mind I rarely get out and about.

As an aside...I had a destructive bend test done on such a tulwar blade at a laboratory..it withstood as much deflection and pressure prior to breaking as the next four inches of the blade which had no weld. So, if the weld is sound, there is no loss of strength.

As to why they are done...could be
small ingots being used or
small end cuts of larger ingots or
repairing a broken blade or
????
I have not ever seen contemporary documentation on the subject...which may mean it was not important enough to note.

Ric