Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 19th March 2014, 08:06 PM   #1
CharlesS
Member
 
CharlesS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,857
Default A Simple, Elegant All Wootz Steel Kard Dagger

While I am generally attracted to "bling" decorated ethnographic weapons, this simple kard dagger really caught my eye in Baltimore at the auction. The dagger is Indo-Persian and likely 19th century or perhaps a little earlier. The dagger is from two pieces of wootz steel, one making the blade and the other the hilt. The contrast of the wootz is quite dramatic.

I suspect the scabbard is later.

I may be rethinking my ideas about "blingy" weapons!

Dimensions: Overall 11.5in. Blade: 7.25in.

Comments and opinions welcomed.
Attached Images
    
CharlesS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th March 2014, 09:23 PM   #2
spiral
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
Default

Lovely!

A true example that The very best quality requires no bling..

Spiral
spiral is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th March 2014, 09:54 PM   #3
ALEX
Member
 
ALEX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
Default

Actually, this IS bling )
Wonderful wootz kard, Charles. Congrats!
Here is another, all wotz kard. The scabbard is new of-course)
Attached Images
 
ALEX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th March 2014, 11:52 PM   #4
spiral
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ALEX
Actually, this IS bling )

Ahhh I guess that depends on which definition of bling one uses.....

For myself I just see quality materials, stylistic proportioned design & skilled manufacture, but not ostentatiousness or decorative ornamentation purely for show..

But that's a personal view... as is yours of course..


Spiral
spiral is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2014, 12:07 AM   #5
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
Default

I'm glad you brought the wootz out in the handle - I couldn't see it at the show.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2014, 12:44 AM   #6
CharlesS
Member
 
CharlesS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,857
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ALEX
Actually, this IS bling )
Wonderful wootz kard, Charles. Congrats!
Here is another, all wotz kard. The scabbard is new of-course)
That's a magnificent example Alex. Thanks for including it in the thread.
CharlesS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th March 2014, 03:15 AM   #7
DaveS
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
Default

Charles: When something is that good, no "bling" is required.......Dave.
DaveS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2014, 01:48 AM   #8
Sossan
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 7
Default

In my opinion the Wootz IS bling, great example, thanks for sharing.
Sossan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2014, 05:49 PM   #9
Montino Bourbon
Member
 
Montino Bourbon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Posts: 301
Default My favorite style!

Simple, beautiful, and functional. My favorite type of dagger. Can be used to cut rope, meat, anything that needs cutting... and an excellent weapon as well.

Here's my newest:
Attached Images
 
Montino Bourbon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2014, 07:45 PM   #10
ALEX
Member
 
ALEX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sossan
In my opinion the Wootz IS bling, great example, thanks for sharing.
One of Arabic translations of wootz, i.e. Jawhar is... diamond(s). So technically, we got it right
ALEX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2014, 07:47 PM   #11
CharlesS
Member
 
CharlesS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,857
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ALEX
One of Arabic translations of wootz, i.e. Jawhar is... diamond(s). So technically, we got it right

Never knew that....thanks Alex. So it is, indeed, more blingy than I thought!
CharlesS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2014, 10:21 PM   #12
Sossan
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 7
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ALEX
One of Arabic translations of wootz, i.e. Jawhar is... diamond(s). So technically, we got it right
Wootz is the new bling
Sossan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2014, 10:41 PM   #13
spiral
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ALEX
One of Arabic translations of wootz, i.e. Jawhar is... diamond(s). So technically, we got it right
Touche!

In that case It seems MTV was right.. In 2004, They released a satirical cartoon showing the term {Bling} being used first by a rapper and then by several progressively less "streetwise" characters, concluding with a middle-aged white woman describing her earrings to her elderly mother. It ended with the statement, "bling-bling 1997-2003." Implying that was its life span ...

linky...

From Jamaican & Bronx ragamuffins & rappers in the early 90s to middle aged ethnographic arms collectors in 20 years!

The development of the English language continues!

I concede defeat....


Spiral
spiral is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st March 2014, 11:00 PM   #14
Runjeet Singh
Member
 
Runjeet Singh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Warwickshire, England
Posts: 150
Default

Great knife Charles, you can just get lost in that Wootz, and great info and pics from the other members.

The dark colour of the blade and hilt have me thinking (I know it's a dangerous thing), but apart from the beauty, was there a 'tactical reason' for the dark steel (or encouragement to have this type of steel etched dark).

I mean, this would make a great assassins dagger, just like modern day tactical knives which are painted or coated black.

I wouldn't be surprised if this type of steel was used with assassins weapons, or for night time use, after all the bagh naka which is designed to be concealed in the hand, was the weapon used to assassinate Bijapur General Afzal Khan by Maharata Emperor Shivaji.

...my evening ramble,
Runjeet
Runjeet Singh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd March 2014, 03:19 AM   #15
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
Default

Runjeet, interesting thought!
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd March 2014, 12:33 PM   #16
CharlesS
Member
 
CharlesS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,857
Default

Runjeet,

Interesting thought, though there are some swords mounted in all wootz hilts(some decorated with gold koftgari...some not).

I think it may have been a matter of personal tastes. I believe in Persian poetry there is reference to "the warrior's black blade". This tells me that there was a certain amount of pride in the wootz itself.

I guess we will really never know what was behind the wootz on wootz combination.
CharlesS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd March 2014, 07:11 PM   #17
Sossan
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 7
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CharlesS
Runjeet,

Interesting thought, though there are some swords mounted in all wootz hilts(some decorated with gold koftgari...some not).

I think it may have been a matter of personal tastes. I believe in Persian poetry there is reference to "the warrior's black blade". This tells me that there was a certain amount of pride in the wootz itself.

I guess we will really never know what was behind the wootz on wootz combination.
Personally I think that the vibrant watered patterns on Wootz hilts can be classed as decoration in itself, even though its not a classified decoration per se.

Thats my personal view and who is to say that Wootz enthusiasts in the past did not share the same sentiment and wanted Wootz hilts as a form of decoration with or without the gold window borders.
Sossan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th March 2014, 11:09 PM   #18
spiral
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sossan
Personally I think that the vibrant watered patterns on Wootz hilts can be classed as decoration in itself, even though its not a classified decoration per se. .
Decorative indeed! no one can doubt that...

But truly functional & simple in design... not "ostentatiousness or decorative ornamentation purely for show.."

Spiral
spiral is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.