Crazy Thing
 

What do you think of this bizzar amalgamation. An Omani kattara scabbard with a Yemeni Jambiya hilt stuck on an interesting blade. I don't have it yet but its coming and I would be interested in any speculation on the blade.

Well, I found a similar blade in this thread,

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=kattara

I guess it is a Kattara blade and scabbard.

You outbid me, you &^t%#$%@!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
This is an Omani kattara, of a very early type, as per Elgood, 17-18th century.
The pommel was broken off and the owner or some other %&$%#$@%^&$ stuck the handle of an Omani jambiya onto it. With a screw, no less....
The blade needs to be cleaned to look for any markings, but I would not be surprised to find it is Persian.
I wanted it so bad! Evidently, you wanted it more...
Well, having vented some steam (and a lot of it, as you see), congratulations!
Just do not forget to post the post-cleaning pics :D :D

Ever since I found this forum I've developed an addiction. Then I found that damn sniper website and I keep winning. I 've been keeping it a secret from my wife but I don't know how much longer I can go before I need an intervention. I'll send photos.

The intervention will be when you can't pay your bills ! ;) :D

lol. Nice grab, Michael. I once outbid Ariel on a dha. I don't think things have been the same between us since then. :p :D

The trick (assuming you can continue to pay the bills) is to avoid displaying things immediately after you get them. That way, when they are brought out, you can honestly say "...that old thing? I picked that up a long time ago." :D

I was recently caught displaying a newly aquired spear in my office. Fortunately, it was around my birthday...

I wish you were caught before sniping this one.
There is some steam left, obviously.

Ebay Lust
 

Keep telling yourself Ariel : It's only an auction ; It's only an auction ....... ;)

Yes, I've called my psychologist already and he told me the same thing.
But ... why life is so unfair and always to me!!???? :eek: :eek:
I need a beer...

I feel your pain Ariel.

Try this one:

http://www.showcaseantiques.net/html...ils.asp?id=150

At the current exchange rate it's not a bad price if it is not a modern reporduction. They also have a couple of nice matchlock rifles for what looks like a real good price if I've got that exchange rate right.

I'd be happy to take the heat off you, Andrew. Just send that spear on up to me. :D

You wouldn't like it, Mark. It's really old and not very shiny. :D

This sword came today. I don't see any markings. I think a see a pattern in the steel but I could be imagining things. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to clean it up?

WD-40 and Brillo pads?

I saw this one, and was waiting until the auction would end so that I would post it here. This is a really strange kattara I must say, I would like to know more about these, because with that hilt, it looks really medieval arab to me.

I dont think the blade is persian, and without any fullers, I do not assume European either, most likely Omani.

Im getting increasingly fascinated with your collection Mike, it contains some very rare pieces, this one, including those Yemeni swords you have from before.

As Ariel said, some soak it in WD-40, then scrub with some brillo pads. Good luck!

Once I clean it I will post pictures. The scabbard was obviously never used for this sword. It's much to small. There are definately irregularities in the steel that indicate a primitive level of forging. The jambiya hilt that was attached with a screw also had silver buttons glued to the top of the screw. Does anyone need a jambiya handle that looks like it was used as a dog's chew toy?

I was wondering, if there was any possibilty that Jambiya style hilts were actually used on these swords, they certainly do 'fit', and the original hilt on that one looks like iron to me. I wouldnt want to be holding an iron hilt, in a long hot day.

I was wondering what you are going to do with the handle, too...
The jambiya one is out of the question, I would take it off. Check Elgood's book on proper handle construction.
Question to everybody: we talked about the limits of restauration; would you go as far as, say, fashioning a new iron segment with a pommel, attaching it to the broken end and covering the whole handle with silver (that was how they looked originally) or, for the economy sake, wrapping it with a leather thong (simpler and later version of the handle)?

I think I may have over-cleaned the blade. The posted pictures are side-by-side with one of my Yemeni swords which has a very similar taper and similar forging flaws and cracks. I would say they were both made in southern Arabia.