Nice pesh kabz

Valjhun · 26th November 2008, 02:24 PM

It was a sleeper on ebay. It was a beauty in his days. quite hard to fing painted ivory hilts nowadays. Blade is probably wootz?

North india mid 18th century, Afghanistan, or Persian mid-qajar?

Henk · 26th November 2008, 05:11 PM

Wow, nice found. Congrats! Clean it carefully and etch the blade to find out if it is wootz.

Valjhun · 30th November 2008, 06:30 PM

Thanks Henk. How should I etch it?
Any other comments?

Atlantia · 30th November 2008, 07:39 PM

Lovely dagger!
If you etch it make sure you put a resist on the koftgari area or you'll lose some or all of the gold.

I've got a nice Pesh Kabz myself and have often thought 'is it wootz'?

Henk · 30th November 2008, 09:10 PM

Valjhun,

Etch with hot vinegar. I also would clean the blade with vinegar to get rid of the rust. As far as I can judge from the pictures it is surface rust that should disappear very easily. Leave the grip and painting as it is.

Vinegar for cleaning and etching is not very agressive, but Atlantia has a point. Be careful with the koftgari. Although I never had problems with cleaning a blade with gold inlay in this way. Just rub gently and with soft materials. You could use the peel of an orange.

ward · 1st December 2008, 02:04 PM

acid does not effect gold only silver or brass.nail polish or wax acts as a resist. You only want to etch the panel on the blade anyway

Atlantia · 1st December 2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

acid does not effect gold only silver or brass.nail polish or wax acts as a resist. You only want to etch the panel on the blade anyway

Although that's of course true, the gold can be loosened or lost completely if the acid can start to get underneath the edges. Which is what I meant.
It depends on the quality of the koftgari, and the quality of the steel, but I would still advise some caution with those areas. Especially when the Koftgari is worn and quite fine.
Nail polish is a good idea. Especially if you're using a hot solution as suggested. Or for slow but safe, wax and lemon juice, then boiling water to take the wax off.

I'm interested that nobody has ventured a guess as to if the dagger is wootz or not yet? Any thoughts?

26th November 2008, 02:24 PM	#1
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Nice pesh kabz It was a sleeper on ebay. It was a beauty in his days. quite hard to fing painted ivory hilts nowadays. Blade is probably wootz? North india mid 18th century, Afghanistan, or Persian mid-qajar? Attached Images Last edited by Valjhun; 26th November 2008 at 03:31 PM.

26th November 2008, 05:11 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Wow, nice found. Congrats! Clean it carefully and etch the blade to find out if it is wootz.

30th November 2008, 06:30 PM	#3
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Thanks Henk. How should I etch it? Any other comments?

30th November 2008, 07:39 PM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Lovely dagger! If you etch it make sure you put a resist on the koftgari area or you'll lose some or all of the gold. I've got a nice Pesh Kabz myself and have often thought 'is it wootz'?

30th November 2008, 09:10 PM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Valjhun, Etch with hot vinegar. I also would clean the blade with vinegar to get rid of the rust. As far as I can judge from the pictures it is surface rust that should disappear very easily. Leave the grip and painting as it is. Vinegar for cleaning and etching is not very agressive, but Atlantia has a point. Be careful with the koftgari. Although I never had problems with cleaning a blade with gold inlay in this way. Just rub gently and with soft materials. You could use the peel of an orange.

1st December 2008, 02:04 PM	#6
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	acid does not effect gold only silver or brass.nail polish or wax acts as a resist. You only want to etch the panel on the blade anyway