Pesh-kabz but from where/when?!

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

I have some ideas but I would appreciate your input!

Congratulations, Marius!
Great pesh-kabz! I think this is India. Second half of the 19th century. This is a very good example!

[Battara]

I totally agree with Mahratt. Mughal India. Very nice too!

[mariusgmioc]

Mughal India, yes.

However, from all I know by 19th century the production of quality wootz pretty much stopped in India, and this blade displays a very nice Kara Taban pattern.

So my guess is that it is from around 1800.

[Drabant1701]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Mughal India, yes.

However, from all I know by 19th century the production of quality wootz pretty much stopped in India, and this blade displays a very nice Kara Taban pattern.

So my guess is that it is from around 1800.

That is indeed a very nice dagger. Regarding age, the scabbard looks second half of the 19th century to me
As for the wootz very nice for sure. Bur as far as I can tell from books even nicer wootz was made in india up to the late 19th century. In Elgood´s Rajput arms and armour there are several blades of very high quality wootz that he dates to the second half of the 19th century, even late 19th century.

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

That is indeed a very nice dagger. Regarding age, the scabbard looks second half of the 19th century to me
As for the wootz very nice for sure. Bur as far as I can tell from books even nicer wootz was made in india up to the late 19th century. In Elgood´s Rajput arms and armour there are several blades of very high quality wootz that he dates to the second half of the 19th century, even late 19th century.

I believe that these high quality wootz blades were re-mounted in the late 19th century.

Does anyone have precise information when wootz stopped being produced in India?!

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

I believe that these high quality wootz blades were re-mounted in the late 19th century.

Does anyone have precise information when wootz stopped being produced in India?!

Marius, I was specifically looking for information about this.
It is important to separate two issues.
1) there was a mass production of damask steel in India. It stopped in the middle of the 19th century
2) in separate principalities of India for maharajas and their entourage, arms and armor of wootz steel undoubtedly continued to be made until the end of the 19th century. It was impossible for such a short time to lose the skill of working with wootz steel. Perhaps, they stopped making wootz steel itself (as a material). But in the arsenals there were enough blanks (wootz ingots) from which it was possible to forge blades.

[ariel]

Hi Marius,
Very, very nice!
I agree with you: my first choice would be a remounted older blade; the second a totally old one protected from the elements in some european collection.