Mechanical Damascus Koumya Blade

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by RobT

Sajen,
I rather doubt that someone would go to the trouble of stamping a maker’s mark and then inlaying it with brass for a tourist koumya. If you look carefully at the photos (especially the close-ups), you can see that the brass on the sheath and hilt is heavy. The workmanship is very well done (especially the rivets). All the parts are well shaped and fitted together. The hilt ferrule fits tightly enough in the sheath throat so that the blade won’t fall out if the sheath is held upside down. Currently, I have 27 koumya and have seen a whole lot more. I know tourist from the real deal. This one is the real (albeit 20th century) deal. As for the damascus issue, we will have to agree to disagree. I have the piece in hand and I say that it’s for sure damascus. It isn’t damascus made to show off a pattern by any means but rather a gathering together of enough bits of steel (with varying degrees of carbon content) to be forge welded into a blade.

Hello Rob,

I don't want to discuss if it is a koummya for use and wear, you have it in hand and I've learned by handling several koummyas that it can be tricky to distinguish between tourist ones and the ones which have been in use for wearing from pictures only. But I've handled tourist ones which have been of good quality.
But I am pretty sure that we don't see any sort of damascus and I am more surprised that not one of our members who are familiar with smithing haven't commented until now. Alan G. Maisey for example will be able to confirm that we don't see any sort of damascus in your pictures.
Polish the blade and re-etch it, you will see that there is no sign of damascus, I am pretty sure, sorry.
BTW, good repair of the tip of the scabbard!

Regards,
Detlef