An apology and a request for information.

Montino Bourbon · 4th April 2014, 12:14 AM

About a month ago I acquired a kard that I had been coveting for three years. I'm afraid that in my pride at having found something that I really liked I came across as knowing it all. The truth is, I don't. I know very little about this kard except that it's wootz, and I like it.

I need all of your expertise to find out more about it. Can you help me? Thank you. I also would like to know how far to go restoring it. The three inches toward the point has black spots that are not yet pitted.

Battara · 4th April 2014, 12:33 AM

I wish I could help you, but I do love the wootz!

However, could those spots be taken out with more etching?

Rick · 4th April 2014, 02:16 AM

I expect Philip Tom could probably polish and re-etch this piece .
He's a member here .

DaveS · 4th April 2014, 06:23 AM

Montino: The only way to really get rid of those spots is a polish and a re-etch. If the spots are only on the surface, it would a very easy polish......Dave.

Montino Bourbon · 4th April 2014, 07:40 AM

Can anybody give me an estimate of age? Of origin? If anybody can tell me, it's the members of this forum; I've been coming here for years, and I have complete confidence in the combined wisdom of this place and its members.

Rich · 4th April 2014, 07:51 AM

I had a kard very similar which I now am very sorry I sold. I estimated (guesstimated) it's age in the mid to late 19th C. Mine was also Wootz and
some type of ivory (mastodon?) handle slabs with gold inlay in the ferrule and around the metal blade handle back and sides.

Rich S

Montino Bourbon · 4th April 2014, 06:02 PM

I'm still waiting to hear from Philip Tom. I've started to work lightly on the blade.

Battara · 5th April 2014, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

I had a kard very similar which I now am very sorry I sold. I estimated (guesstimated) it's age in the mid to late 19th C. Mine was also Wootz and
some type of ivory (mastodon?) handle slabs with gold inlay in the ferrule and around the metal blade handle back and sides.

Rich S

I would agree that this is mid-late 19th century.

Montino Bourbon · 6th April 2014, 11:51 PM

I worked on this quite a bit, strictly surface work; scrubbies, aluminum foil crumpled, #1500 paper. Not enough to get the spots near the point, but enough to get through the crud of centuries.

I then etched one side with phosphoric... slow etch, muddy result.

The other side I did with ferric chloride; worked fast and very well. A very nice fine wootz pattern with 'ladder' marks. Clear, no brownish cast. I'll do the other side with that after I finish cleaning up from the Phosphoric.

cicak_cobing · 7th April 2014, 04:16 AM

looks like the etch turned out good..
the wootz looks really beautiful..

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 15th April 2014, 06:16 PM

See page 37 (Daggers) Anthony North Islamic Arms, V. and A. Museum ... for a short but comprehensive outline of Islamic Daggers.
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

4th April 2014, 06:02 PM	#7
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Thank you. Rich... I'm still waiting to hear from Philip Tom. I've started to work lightly on the blade.

6th April 2014, 11:51 PM	#9
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	New Kard... etch #1 I worked on this quite a bit, strictly surface work; scrubbies, aluminum foil crumpled, #1500 paper. Not enough to get the spots near the point, but enough to get through the crud of centuries. I then etched one side with phosphoric... slow etch, muddy result. The other side I did with ferric chloride; worked fast and very well. A very nice fine wootz pattern with 'ladder' marks. Clear, no brownish cast. I'll do the other side with that after I finish cleaning up from the Phosphoric. Attached Images

4th April 2014, 12:14 AM	#1
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	An apology and a request for information. About a month ago I acquired a kard that I had been coveting for three years. I'm afraid that in my pride at having found something that I really liked I came across as knowing it all. The truth is, I don't. I know very little about this kard except that it's wootz, and I like it. I need all of your expertise to find out more about it. Can you help me? Thank you. I also would like to know how far to go restoring it. The three inches toward the point has black spots that are not yet pitted. Attached Images

4th April 2014, 12:33 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	I wish I could help you, but I do love the wootz! However, could those spots be taken out with more etching?

4th April 2014, 02:16 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,325	I expect Philip Tom could probably polish and re-etch this piece . He's a member here .

4th April 2014, 06:23 AM	#4
DaveS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 327	Montino: The only way to really get rid of those spots is a polish and a re-etch. If the spots are only on the surface, it would a very easy polish......Dave.

4th April 2014, 07:40 AM	#5
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Can anybody give me an estimate of age? Of origin? If anybody can tell me, it's the members of this forum; I've been coming here for years, and I have complete confidence in the combined wisdom of this place and its members.

4th April 2014, 07:51 AM	#6
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I had a kard very similar which I now am very sorry I sold. I estimated (guesstimated) it's age in the mid to late 19th C. Mine was also Wootz and some type of ivory (mastodon?) handle slabs with gold inlay in the ferrule and around the metal blade handle back and sides. Rich S

7th April 2014, 04:16 AM	#10
cicak_cobing Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 20	looks like the etch turned out good.. the wootz looks really beautiful..

15th April 2014, 06:16 PM	#11
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	See page 37 (Daggers) Anthony North Islamic Arms, V. and A. Museum ... for a short but comprehensive outline of Islamic Daggers. Ibrahiim al Balooshi.