A stone handled Pesh Kabz

A. G. Maisey · 15th August 2010, 11:21 PM

Ferguson, the stone in this hilt is probably serpentine.

Jade, both nephrite and jadeite, has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the mohs scale.

Serpentine has a hardness of 2.5 to 5.5.

Both nephrite and jadeite come in a wide variety of colours, for instance I have a khanjar with a black stone hilt that has been identified as jade (I am uncertain if jadeite or nephrite) by an gemologist. I have a ring in which the stone is a large piece of lilac jadeite.

You really need a gemologist to identify what the stone is, but a quick test that can save money when buying is to pull out your pocket knife and see if you can scratch the material. If you cannot scratch it, its a good indication that you have one of the jades in your hand.

Over the years I have owned a number of daggers of this type, all have had serpentine hilts.

Ferguson · 15th August 2010, 11:58 PM

I can scratch it. Probably serpentine.

Here's a pic of Bowenite Serpentine from wikipedia. Looks a lot like mine.
Thanks gentlemen!
Steve

Atlantia · 16th August 2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

I can scratch it. Probably serpentine.

Here's a pic of Bowenite Serpentine from wikipedia. Looks a lot like mine.
Thanks gentlemen!
Steve

Thats interesting, have you tried both stones with the scratch test?
I can barely mark mine with a new exacto blade.

Ferguson · 16th August 2010, 12:47 AM

Just tried the stone at the bolster. It can scratch too.

Steve

A. G. Maisey · 16th August 2010, 12:57 AM

Serpentine can go as high as 5.5 mohs, which is not all that far behind jade,but a sharp blade will still mark it.

A sharp blade will never mark jade, it just slides across the surface and leaves a deposit of steel, which looks like a very faint pencil mark.

Battara · 16th August 2010, 01:51 AM

Alan is right. Jade (jadite and nephrite) are very hard stones, therefore difficult to carve, and will not be scratched by steel.

Ferguson · 16th August 2010, 02:10 AM

Even though it's not jade, I'm extremely happy with the knife. Though I can scratch the stone (with a very sharp, very hard S30V blade) it is pretty hard. It has survived all these years with no breakage, and is just a gorgeous material. I was very fortunate. The seller was asking $100, and I got it for much less.

My Scottish genes are dancing with joy.

Steve

From Wikipedia (not always accurate) "Bowenite is an especially hard serpentine (5.5) of a light to dark apple green colour, often mottled with cloudy white patches and darker veining. It is the serpentine most frequently encountered in carving and jewellery."

From http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/serpentine.htm
"H. typically 2½ -4, but up to 5½ for some varieties, such as bowenite"

16th August 2010, 02:10 AM	#7
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Even though it's not jade, I'm extremely happy with the knife. Though I can scratch the stone (with a very sharp, very hard S30V blade) it is pretty hard. It has survived all these years with no breakage, and is just a gorgeous material. I was very fortunate. The seller was asking $100, and I got it for much less. My Scottish genes are dancing with joy. Steve From Wikipedia (not always accurate) "Bowenite is an especially hard serpentine (5.5) of a light to dark apple green colour, often mottled with cloudy white patches and darker veining. It is the serpentine most frequently encountered in carving and jewellery." From http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/serpentine.htm "H. typically 2½ -4, but up to 5½ for some varieties, such as bowenite" Last edited by Ferguson; 16th August 2010 at 02:22 AM.

15th August 2010, 11:21 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	Ferguson, the stone in this hilt is probably serpentine. Jade, both nephrite and jadeite, has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the mohs scale. Serpentine has a hardness of 2.5 to 5.5. Both nephrite and jadeite come in a wide variety of colours, for instance I have a khanjar with a black stone hilt that has been identified as jade (I am uncertain if jadeite or nephrite) by an gemologist. I have a ring in which the stone is a large piece of lilac jadeite. You really need a gemologist to identify what the stone is, but a quick test that can save money when buying is to pull out your pocket knife and see if you can scratch the material. If you cannot scratch it, its a good indication that you have one of the jades in your hand. Over the years I have owned a number of daggers of this type, all have had serpentine hilts.

15th August 2010, 11:58 PM	#2
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	I can scratch it. Probably serpentine. Here's a pic of Bowenite Serpentine from wikipedia. Looks a lot like mine. Thanks gentlemen! Steve

16th August 2010, 12:47 AM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Just tried the stone at the bolster. It can scratch too. Steve

16th August 2010, 12:57 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	Serpentine can go as high as 5.5 mohs, which is not all that far behind jade,but a sharp blade will still mark it. A sharp blade will never mark jade, it just slides across the surface and leaves a deposit of steel, which looks like a very faint pencil mark.

16th August 2010, 01:51 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Alan is right. Jade (jadite and nephrite) are very hard stones, therefore difficult to carve, and will not be scratched by steel.