Kaskara with unusual patterning in the blade

katana · 24th May 2010, 06:59 PM

Hi,
this Kaskara seems to have a very crude wootz-like pattening all over the blade (the pics do not show this clearly). Excellent temper and the edges are still quite sharp even though it was quite rusty. The blade is approx 4.5mm at the forte and the central fullers are forged....rather than ground.

I am not suggesting that this blade is made from some sort of course, wootz billet, but there is 'something' unusual. There is a 'bright' and 'dark' grainy effect as if there are two different grades of steel/iron. I wonder whether it is 'shear steel'. I remember reading somewhere that blades made from 'shear' were considered high quality.....but I cannot find the reference

Evidence of re-sharpening of the blade....sometime ago. No markings.

I believe the blade is much older than the hilt (re-hilts are extremely common due to climatic conditions) The cross guard also has age.

Any and all comments gratefully received, thank you.

Regards David

Rick · 24th May 2010, 08:24 PM

Maybe rub a section of the blade with a little oil and take another closeup ?
Really hard to tell pitting from pattern in the piccys .

RSWORD · 24th May 2010, 10:04 PM

I agree that it is very difficult to determine the metalurgical details given how much pitting and patina are on the blade. To make a better guess, you can always polish a window in the blade and etch it to find out. However, given the low probability that it is wootz it might be prohibitive to find out especially if it turns out not to be wootz and then you have a clean window in an otherwise pitted and patina'ed blade.

Lew · 24th May 2010, 11:02 PM

I would say it is highly unlikely that this blade is wootz. It seems to be an older European trade blade.

Jim McDougall · 25th May 2010, 04:16 AM

Actually this type kaskara blade with this type fuller and the uniformity of the blade thickness suggest it is likely sheet steel which indeed does show some age. In some cases stock markings can be found among the locally applied imitations of the old European markings which are still often used.

I am not sure on the metallurgy of sheet steel, or the degrees of quality but it would be interesting to know more on this steel which was used for the blades produced there in the latter 19th century into the early 20th as the volume of remaining European blades diminished.

katana · 25th May 2010, 02:04 PM

Thank you all, for your comments, I will try and clean a window and post pictures. As I said before, I am certain this is not a form of wootz ...but helps described the grainy, contrasted effect.
Hi Jim, the blade is not uniformly the same thickness. At the forte it is 4.5mm ...distally tapering to approx 1mm at the tip. It is well made with a good temper...I believe a European trade blade. If this is shear steel ...likely British ? (Sheffield ?) ....or where other European suppliers manufacturing shear steel blades ?

KInd Regards David

24th May 2010, 06:59 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Kaskara with unusual patterning in the blade Hi, this Kaskara seems to have a very crude wootz-like pattening all over the blade (the pics do not show this clearly). Excellent temper and the edges are still quite sharp even though it was quite rusty. The blade is approx 4.5mm at the forte and the central fullers are forged....rather than ground. I am not suggesting that this blade is made from some sort of course, wootz billet, but there is 'something' unusual. There is a 'bright' and 'dark' grainy effect as if there are two different grades of steel/iron. I wonder whether it is 'shear steel'. I remember reading somewhere that blades made from 'shear' were considered high quality.....but I cannot find the reference Evidence of re-sharpening of the blade....sometime ago. No markings. I believe the blade is much older than the hilt (re-hilts are extremely common due to climatic conditions) The cross guard also has age. Any and all comments gratefully received, thank you. Regards David Attached Images

24th May 2010, 08:24 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Maybe rub a section of the blade with a little oil and take another closeup ? Really hard to tell pitting from pattern in the piccys . Last edited by Rick; 24th May 2010 at 08:38 PM.

24th May 2010, 10:04 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	I agree that it is very difficult to determine the metalurgical details given how much pitting and patina are on the blade. To make a better guess, you can always polish a window in the blade and etch it to find out. However, given the low probability that it is wootz it might be prohibitive to find out especially if it turns out not to be wootz and then you have a clean window in an otherwise pitted and patina'ed blade.

24th May 2010, 11:02 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I would say it is highly unlikely that this blade is wootz. It seems to be an older European trade blade.

25th May 2010, 04:16 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Actually this type kaskara blade with this type fuller and the uniformity of the blade thickness suggest it is likely sheet steel which indeed does show some age. In some cases stock markings can be found among the locally applied imitations of the old European markings which are still often used. I am not sure on the metallurgy of sheet steel, or the degrees of quality but it would be interesting to know more on this steel which was used for the blades produced there in the latter 19th century into the early 20th as the volume of remaining European blades diminished.

25th May 2010, 02:04 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thank you all, for your comments, I will try and clean a window and post pictures. As I said before, I am certain this is not a form of wootz ...but helps described the grainy, contrasted effect. Hi Jim, the blade is not uniformly the same thickness. At the forte it is 4.5mm ...distally tapering to approx 1mm at the tip. It is well made with a good temper...I believe a European trade blade. If this is shear steel ...likely British ? (Sheffield ?) ....or where other European suppliers manufacturing shear steel blades ? KInd Regards David