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#1 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Hi All
I just picked this up. It needs some cleaning but it should turn out nice. I really like those two serpent heads on the side bars. Let me know what you think? Lew http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-South-Indi...QQcmdZViewItem |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Hi Louieblades,
You have gotten yourself a nice old south Indian katar – congratulation ![]() It does need some careful cleaning, but then again, it is half the joy, to learn to know the weapon the slow way ![]() Jens |
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#3 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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The katar arrived today and except for some light surface rust it is in great shape. Jens yes the little beads spin quite nicely.
Lew |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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Nice katar, Lew. Looks like a good example at a good price.
I also like the seller very much. Runjeet. Posts often here. Especially like what Jens said. "It does need some careful cleaning, but then again, it is half the joy, to learn to know the weapon the slow way." This is a very true statement. I experience a real bonding with my pieces by cleaning, oiling and polishing them. If you listen carefully, they have stories to tell. ![]() |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Hi Lew,
I have often wondered what the meaning are with the small wheels, could they be small prayer wheels – or maybe something else? I have BTW only seen these small wheels on south Indian katars. Happy cleaning ![]() |
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#6 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Jens
This katar has a nice old brown patina I am afraid if I clean it with sand paper it will get ruined. I can soak it in a rust remover but that tends to turn the steel a dark gray. How would you clean it? Lew |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
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Hi Lew,
It is an interesting question you ask, and I am not sure how to answer it, but let me try. I very, very seldom use a machine like a Dremel when I have to clean weapons, as it either suddenly slips, and you are polishing a place which should not be polished, or you have suddenly been polishing too much on one spot, so I do it all by hand. Endless hours of work, but I know where I am, and how far I still have to go. If you have a look at the attached ‘Before and after’ picture, you can try to imagine how many hours I used – but it paid off. Is the blade burnished, like many of these blades are? If it is, and even if it is not, I hope someone like Jeff, Greg or someone ease will answer the question, as they are far better judges when it comes to answer this than I am. If I had it and I had it in my hand, I would judge for myself what to do, but advising someone else when you are not a weapon smith, is quite another matter. |
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 189
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#9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Thanks Jeff
![]() Jens |
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#10 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Well I got busy last night and used some 600 grit wet dry sand paper on the blade with water and the blade came out nice. It's no longer brown but I left it with some patina. The side bars are almost free of rust but the grip bars still have some brown patina left. I will post some pics this weekend when I have some good natural light to take them in.
Lew |
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#11 | |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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I wonder now after seeing two Bikaner marked swords with grind marks if they might possibly have used a wheel to put an edge on munitions grade swords before they were issued for battle; it certainly would have provided a rough but effective cutting edge . ![]() |
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,718
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Hi Rick,
No I don’t think they used this method, I am afraid the grind marks were applied later – I am sorry to say. I will however not tell you what I think should happen to who’s who did it, or Andrew will send me into outer space ![]() I have a beautiful Tanjore katar, where the blade has been treated with acid, and it has taken me many, many hours to make it look all right. Someone who could do a thing like that should he hanged, shot, quartered, skinned or something else – sorry Andrew ![]() Yes Rick, it is unfortunately true, that many weapons are badly mistreated before they are sold – alas. Jens |
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#13 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Hi All
Cleaned the katar a bit but left it with some patina. Lew |
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#14 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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Lew, that is one really pretty piece of steel!
![]() ![]() ![]() Nice job of keeping the patina and still cleaning it up a bit. |
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