Hilt Replacement on an Indian Dagger.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

I agree with Jens. The original looks to be a match. All we have now IMHO is a modern made replica and a probable trap for future collectors who think they have an original.
Stu

Salaams,
Thank you for your input. As you are aware we certificate every modification. You also know that most Omani Khanjars, for example, have their hilts switched sometimes several times and that after battles the winner takes all concept meant that many blade and hilt combinations changed according to the wishes of the winning side.. Hilt switch in many ways can enhance a weapon. In any case this weapon was a rusted, wobbly, old wreck with no scabbard and a broken, fragmentary hilt and no tang ! We think this Indian Khanjar is now rightly teamed up with its correct hilt style.
It is always a difficult decision to go ahead with a replacement restoration but we think we have got this one right since it was never a workable katar dagger and the fragmented hilt just failed to keep the weapon in circulation... "We either restore or chuck it away" was almost the choice.
Now we have a reasonable Indian Khanjar properly re-tanged and fitted with pitch and with its removed old hilt by its side and all supporting docs. The client seems to appreciate the work. We believe that this is allowable restoration though we weighed this one up for many months before we gave it the green light..

Indian Khanjar. Mid 19th C. Blade with recent replacement Hilt and new tang.. Restoration including Silver pin decoration done in Oman( July/August 2011), reflecting the beautiful, Koftgari work on the blade.

Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[A.alnakkas]

I agree with Ibrahim on this. The restoration is very valid Imo and as long as he points it out when selling there is no problem!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

I agree with Ibrahim on this. The restoration is very valid Imo and as long as he points it out when selling there is no problem!

Shukran Jazeelan yaa Ustadh !

Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi

[Nathaniel]

It looks fantastic, Ibrahiim. Good points regarding switching hilt tastes. Thank you very much for sharing. Beautiful job. Shukran

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

It looks fantastic, Ibrahiim. Good points regarding switching hilt tastes. Thank you very much for sharing. Beautiful job. Shukran

Salaams Nathaniel wa Afwan,
The weapons made for the Royal Court of Shah Jehan were also pitch joined at hilt and blade and the Metropolitan Museum records show how often the hilt switching occured. Personally I was pleased with the silver pin design and how well the old cow horn polished up. We have done lots of Khanajer but this was our first soirre with an Indian dagger and I'm glad you like it.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[TimW]

If the knife was broken, I would have fixed it. In this case I would have kept it as it is (but that is my personal opinion), because the original repair tells an interesting story.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by TimW

If the knife was broken, I would have fixed it. In this case I would have kept it as it is (but that is my personal opinion), because the original repair tells an interesting story.

Salaams TimW,
The Katar hilt fix was a botchup. That combination would have fallen apart sharpening a pencil. However I accept your point; after all the project was placed on the forum for that purpose. The "knife" as you put it was indeed broken, so we fixed it. The original repair was a train crash! I dont see any story attached to the previous setup but I would be delighted to hear one..
Sometimes Indian Daggers were just ornamental i.e. To show off on the waistbelt at The Shahs Court rather than as a weapon and we even discussed that as a possibility. In the end we went for the full rehilt because of the state of the thing and because it was a broken half a hilt and we believed it was a missmatch wrong hilt style/wrong dagger style.
Personally I tend to avoid personal opinions myself, rather, I prefer sound research and reasoned arguement when appraising a forum topic. Or as one of my old commanding officers would say... "Mr when I want your personal opinion I'll give you it" !
This project took hours of planning and research and briefings in 3 different languages plus procurement of the right materials and workshop time and effort. What I was hoping for but didn't quite get from the forum was questions and constructive criticism on the various ancient techniques we carried out to redo this lovely artefact... all done by hand ...no power tools... hand cut and polished horn, hand made silver pins and pitch to join the blade and hilt as in the old way for blades in the "Shahs" workshop..
In fact I have developed quite an aversion to the dreadful term IMHO that I urge forum to penalise such comment because it adds nothing constructive to the knowledge base unless accompanied by sense and facts.. By all means get the books out and lets have a sensible kick the ball round debate...
Restoration is one of the main topics but we don't have a full facility to handle projects, questions and ideas... see my thread...that idea of a restoration library seems to have sunk somewhat despite a number of very good restoration projects ongoing.
I see no sense it sticking up a one liner reply that says "in my opinion etc etc "and then to be awarded that as I x post on the forum input score... On the contrary and with respect, I think those bland replies, whilst allowable, should simply score zero.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Atlantia]

Ibrahiim.

I think that there is some question here as to what the original hilt represents.

Clearly, (as I suggested in my original post) the koftgari was applied to the steel after it's modification to this shape.

I also still think that the decoration on both blade and hilt seem contemporary.

Was it original to this blade? (in as much as has it ever had a different hilt?)
I think possibly yes, quite possibly they have always been together.
I think that either way, the hilt in this configuration was IMHO completely deliberate. Strange yes, but carefully and skillfully made. Not by any means a quick fix or botched job.

As I originally said, I think it might have been to achieve a more 'Chilanum-esq' look.
Short tangs are often (in my experience) on blades cemented into metal or stone hilts.
Who knows why the maker went to such effort to decorate a modified Katar grip and mount it sideways on this blade?

When Tim suggests that there is an interesting story. He's right, there is!

I assume that from your comments about the condition, the Katar hilt was already cracked where the tang enters?
Presumably this suggests some force being used, so presumably the hilt was good and solid originally?

If it were mine, I would have liked to repair the original hilt and keep it.

That said! It's not mine, it's yours
And I think that once you've flipped the new hilt over, it'll look fine.

The horn looks like 'blonde buffalo'. I've not seen an indian hilt of this type made from it before, I'd usually associate it more with Kurdish/Ottoman daggers.

For me, strangely I think it looks like 'what it is': A Arab influenced hilt of Indo-Persian style.

I wouldn't associate the silver pinwork with Indian daggers, I would associate it with Islamic/Arab daggers.

So, I think you've taken an interesting item and turned it into...... another interesting item!

Have you flipped the hilt yet?

Best
Gene