Mystery of Muhammads Sword???

Ian · 11th July 2006, 12:25 AM

Very interesting questions you raise and I hope we will hear some insightful responses. Just a quick comment about trade with India.

In my travels to southern India in recent years I have asked often about the connections between that region and the Muslim world. Along the Malabar coast of southern India are very old immigrant populations of Muslims that probably date from the early origins of Islam. Their descendants became the Moplah. Trade between northern Africa and the old Indian cities of Calicut and Cochin was established before Islam, so I have no doubt that the import of wootz steel from India would have been quite feasible. Whether the Indian swordsmiths would have parted readily with their secrets is another matter IMO.

Ian.

S.Al-Anizi · 11th July 2006, 12:50 AM

Thanks Ian. I have always known of a strong trade between India and Arabia, since pre-Islam, and up until the last days of the Sultanate of Muscat and Zanzibar. According to Dr.Elgood in his book, he says that Yemeni bladesmiths referred to good blades as "Muhannad", meaning "from India", and that Indian blades were often re-worked to local styles and grooves in Yemen.

Rivkin · 11th July 2006, 02:36 AM

Which sword exactly do you mean ? A picture would help. The early wootz is a controversial subject - while I have seen migration time mechanical damascus patterns, I never seen a definite argument concerning the earliest appearance of wootz.

S.Al-Anizi · 11th July 2006, 02:55 AM

The publication I have is in Arabic, but still, you can see the pics.

11th July 2006, 12:25 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Very interesting questions you raise and I hope we will hear some insightful responses. Just a quick comment about trade with India. In my travels to southern India in recent years I have asked often about the connections between that region and the Muslim world. Along the Malabar coast of southern India are very old immigrant populations of Muslims that probably date from the early origins of Islam. Their descendants became the Moplah. Trade between northern Africa and the old Indian cities of Calicut and Cochin was established before Islam, so I have no doubt that the import of wootz steel from India would have been quite feasible. Whether the Indian swordsmiths would have parted readily with their secrets is another matter IMO. Ian.

11th July 2006, 12:50 AM	#2
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	Thanks Ian. I have always known of a strong trade between India and Arabia, since pre-Islam, and up until the last days of the Sultanate of Muscat and Zanzibar. According to Dr.Elgood in his book, he says that Yemeni bladesmiths referred to good blades as "Muhannad", meaning "from India", and that Indian blades were often re-worked to local styles and grooves in Yemen.

11th July 2006, 02:36 AM	#3
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	Which sword exactly do you mean ? A picture would help. The early wootz is a controversial subject - while I have seen migration time mechanical damascus patterns, I never seen a definite argument concerning the earliest appearance of wootz.

11th July 2006, 02:55 AM	#4
S.Al-Anizi Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arabia Posts: 278	The publication I have is in Arabic, but still, you can see the pics.