Camel Head Hilted Wootz sword

Lew · 16th November 2005, 03:27 AM

Hi all

I just closed a deal on a real nice wootz sword the hilt has very nice gold koftgari and the camel head has some semi precious stones in the eyes and mouth bit. The blade is wootz with the makers name written in Arabic script. Your comments would be very helpful.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...es/India02.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...es/India05.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...es/India04.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/India032.jpg

Thanks

Lew

Andrew · 16th November 2005, 03:52 AM

You're a tease, Lew.

Got pix?

Lew · 16th November 2005, 04:00 AM

URL'S are attached see top posting.

Lew

Rich · 16th November 2005, 04:19 AM

I think I saw bundles of these in a tourist shop in Karachi :-)
(just kidding). A very nice looking sword.

Rich S

Andrew · 16th November 2005, 03:19 PM

Hi Lew,

Beautiful sword, congrats! Did the seller tell you anything about it? Any provenance?

The blade looks older than the handle and cartouche. Is it possible the gold work has been "freshened"?

Best,
Andrew

Mark · 16th November 2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

I think I saw bundles of these in a tourist shop in Karachi :-)
(just kidding). A very nice looking sword.

Rich S

Now that's just wrong, Rich ....

CharlesS · 16th November 2005, 05:47 PM

Gorgeous blade, but I feel the hilt is either a new replacement, or a has been heavily refurbished recently. Is a camel motif typically Indian??

Lew · 16th November 2005, 06:15 PM

Charles

The gold seems to have been redone but I see some wear in some spots so it can't be that recent a job probably done some years ago but will inspect it more closely when it arrives.

Lew

Rick · 16th November 2005, 06:28 PM

Nice!
The hatching for the cartouch on the blade is very well done ; a sign of quality .

I've got to start playing the lottery .

Jens Nordlunde · 16th November 2005, 07:15 PM

Charles, yes the camel is seen on Indian hilts - not often, but it is seen.

Nice sword you got. I too think the hilt may be newer, but the design fits to the blade.

RSWORD · 16th November 2005, 08:46 PM

I suspect that this is a composite piece but one made from nice parts. The wootz looks great and the blade has a nice profile and arc and really seems to be a quality blade. The handle is a style more typically seen on daggers and on occasion swords. However, in either case, they are not seen with a knucklebow. I suspect the camel pommel and the knuckle bow are later additions to this grip. I would look closely but I believe they are add on's. The camel pommel seems slightly off the handle in the picture, as far as it does not sit flush. The coloration of the metal on the camel and knucklebow varies a fair bit from the handle and I suspect they are from different sources put together. The koftgari on the hilt and the arabic script is quite nice. The blade looks as though it originally had a different hilt style. You can see where the wootz blade has been welded to the tang. Not uncommon but typically this joint would be hidden by the langets of a cross guard or sometimes with koftgari. The fact it is so visible makes me suspect this blade had a different hilting originally.

I think you can't go wrong with a great wootz blade but hopefully it was not sold as an antique or original antique because from the pictures it has a composite feel made from old and new parts.

Lew · 24th November 2005, 02:20 AM

Hi All

I decided against buying the sword based on information I received from other collectors.

Thanks for the feedback

Lew

16th November 2005, 03:27 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Camel Head Hilted Wootz sword Hi all I just closed a deal on a real nice wootz sword the hilt has very nice gold koftgari and the camel head has some semi precious stones in the eyes and mouth bit. The blade is wootz with the makers name written in Arabic script. Your comments would be very helpful. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...es/India02.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...es/India05.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...es/India04.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/India032.jpg Thanks Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 16th November 2005 at 04:04 AM.

16th November 2005, 03:52 AM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	You're a tease, Lew. Got pix?

16th November 2005, 04:00 AM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	URL'S are attached see top posting. Lew

16th November 2005, 04:19 AM	#4
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I think I saw bundles of these in a tourist shop in Karachi :-) (just kidding). A very nice looking sword. Rich S

16th November 2005, 03:19 PM	#5
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Hi Lew, Beautiful sword, congrats! Did the seller tell you anything about it? Any provenance? The blade looks older than the handle and cartouche. Is it possible the gold work has been "freshened"? Best, Andrew

16th November 2005, 05:47 PM	#7
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Gorgeous blade, but I feel the hilt is either a new replacement, or a has been heavily refurbished recently. Is a camel motif typically Indian??

16th November 2005, 06:15 PM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Charles The gold seems to have been redone but I see some wear in some spots so it can't be that recent a job probably done some years ago but will inspect it more closely when it arrives. Lew

16th November 2005, 06:28 PM	#9
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Nice! The hatching for the cartouch on the blade is very well done ; a sign of quality . I've got to start playing the lottery .

16th November 2005, 07:15 PM	#10
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Charles, yes the camel is seen on Indian hilts - not often, but it is seen. Nice sword you got. I too think the hilt may be newer, but the design fits to the blade.

16th November 2005, 08:46 PM	#11
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	I suspect that this is a composite piece but one made from nice parts. The wootz looks great and the blade has a nice profile and arc and really seems to be a quality blade. The handle is a style more typically seen on daggers and on occasion swords. However, in either case, they are not seen with a knucklebow. I suspect the camel pommel and the knuckle bow are later additions to this grip. I would look closely but I believe they are add on's. The camel pommel seems slightly off the handle in the picture, as far as it does not sit flush. The coloration of the metal on the camel and knucklebow varies a fair bit from the handle and I suspect they are from different sources put together. The koftgari on the hilt and the arabic script is quite nice. The blade looks as though it originally had a different hilt style. You can see where the wootz blade has been welded to the tang. Not uncommon but typically this joint would be hidden by the langets of a cross guard or sometimes with koftgari. The fact it is so visible makes me suspect this blade had a different hilting originally. I think you can't go wrong with a great wootz blade but hopefully it was not sold as an antique or original antique because from the pictures it has a composite feel made from old and new parts.

24th November 2005, 02:20 AM	#12
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi All I decided against buying the sword based on information I received from other collectors. Thanks for the feedback Lew