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23rd May 2014, 05:19 PM | #1 |
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Posts: 456
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Cleaning a rusty khanjar without removing koftgari
I assume this is a Syrian Khanjar but correct me if I'm wrong. I'm also assuming the decorations are koftgari and that they were done with silver.
As you can see, it's very very rusty and I'd like to clean it up a bit but without removing any of the koftgari. Obviously any kind of abrasive cleaning is out, but would soaking it in something mildly acidic remove some rust without damaging the silver? So far I've been using flitz polish and it's helped a little. I know it's going to be impossible to remove all the rust, but I would like to make it a little less ugly. Weirdly enough, both the scabbard and the blade seem to have been chrome plated! Whoever made it scratched off the chrome plating on the bits where they applied the koftgari. It must have looked pretty strange even when it was new. |
23rd May 2014, 06:32 PM | #2 |
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Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
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Hi can you confirm that this is koftgari as it simply looks like an etched pattern scratched roughly into the surface... I mean I may be wrong... please check...
Ibrahiim al Balooshi |
23rd May 2014, 06:44 PM | #3 |
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It does appear to be koftgari. Some of it is actually peeling up. It also has the tell tale crosshatching that the koftgari's applied to.
Edit: I should add that I'm obviously no expert on these things, but I do have a small Burmese Dao that has koftgari so I have handled the "real deal" before. Last edited by blue lander; 23rd May 2014 at 07:02 PM. |
23rd May 2014, 08:19 PM | #4 |
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Location: Kuwait
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Cant say much about the restoration but yes this is Syrian with silver lines. You need to be careful as those easily peel off. Good luck!
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23rd May 2014, 10:14 PM | #5 |
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Thanks. The back of the hilt and scabbard only have a little koftgari on them, I'm going to try to clean that side by covering it with a tissue soaked in coca cola for a few hours. I'll see if it damages the decorations before I try it on the front.
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24th May 2014, 10:37 AM | #6 | |
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Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
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Quote:
Ok soapy water only and a soft brush.....coke is acidic. Use at your own peril... Ibrahiim al Balooshi |
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