Wootz Shamshir for translation and comment please

[katana]

Originally Posted by tom hyle

Is that a hardening line, or what is that?

Well spotted Tom (couldn't find a smillie for "hawkeyed" ),
yes I believe it is where the edge has been hardened ....if you look at the picture of the entire sword...the line appears to be almost half the width of the blade running to the point.

As I understand it, hardening/heat treating wootz is very difficult to do without 'damaging' the patterning....or am I mistaken.

Kind Regards David