A decorated Kard for comment and help with translation

Sajen · 24th April 2022, 09:37 PM

What a beauty!

GePi · 25th April 2022, 04:05 PM

Thanks all, it certainly is a step up in quality for my collection.

I unfortunately did not take any photos pre-restoration myself, so I can only show the auctioneer's pictures.
It seems the knife was 'restored' before and someone took a rough grinding wheel to the edge and went way overboard with it. It really bothered me and I did the best I could to correct it to a more appropiate shape as far as possible. There was also some of the goldwire missing which I have had restored by a specialist because that is beyond my paygrade.

mariusgmioc · 26th April 2022, 12:39 PM

In my oppinion it is Mughal.

Lovely piece anyhow!

Peter B. · 27th April 2022, 06:37 PM

This is an exceptionally beautiful knife and a wonderful restoration.
How did you manage to bring the cutting edge back to its current state?

GePi · 28th April 2022, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter B.

This is an exceptionally beautiful knife and a wonderful restoration.
How did you manage to bring the cutting edge back to its current state?

Nothing fancy, just grinding the flats of the blade down and polishing everything up again for the etch. It was a bit of a challenge, especially where the chiselled cartouches came very near to the edge, but I am pretty happy with how it turned out.
I use diamond coated knife sharpening stones for the rough grind. An odd choice perhaps, but they are small and handy and I never got the hang of properly moving a blade over a large whetstone. Fine polish with sandpaper with a hard backing.

Peter B. · 1st May 2022, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GePi

Nothing fancy, just grinding the flats of the blade down ...

Thanks for the explanation. It turned out to be a very nice job.

kwiatek · 20th May 2022, 05:55 PM

On the blade is a famous couplet from the Gulistan of Sa'di:

غرض نقشیست کز ما باز ماند
که هستی را نمی بینم بقایی

"The aim of this design is that it should outlive us,
For I see no permanence in this existence"

Down the back of the grip is Surat al-Ikhlas (112)

In the cartouche at the back of the base of the blade I would suggest the following

فرمایش سردار شیر علی خان

"Commission of Sardar Sher 'Ali Khan"

The date and name of the maker I read as you have done

سنه ۱۲۷۲

"Year 1272 (1854-5)"

عمل احمد الله صوفی

"Work of Ahmadullah Sufi"

The names strongly suggest the owner and maker were from Afghanistan. There was a member of the Barakzai dynasty called Sardar Sher 'Ali Khan who was vizier to the governor in Herat and later governor himself of Kandahar. His dates fit too

https://www.royalark.net/Afghanistan/barak5.htm

25th April 2022, 04:05 PM	#2
GePi Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Germany Posts: 95	Thanks all, it certainly is a step up in quality for my collection. I unfortunately did not take any photos pre-restoration myself, so I can only show the auctioneer's pictures. It seems the knife was 'restored' before and someone took a rough grinding wheel to the edge and went way overboard with it. It really bothered me and I did the best I could to correct it to a more appropiate shape as far as possible. There was also some of the goldwire missing which I have had restored by a specialist because that is beyond my paygrade. Attached Images

24th April 2022, 09:37 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	What a beauty!

26th April 2022, 12:39 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	In my oppinion it is Mughal. Lovely piece anyhow!

27th April 2022, 06:37 PM	#4
Peter B. Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: Germany Posts: 43	This is an exceptionally beautiful knife and a wonderful restoration. How did you manage to bring the cutting edge back to its current state?

20th May 2022, 05:55 PM	#7
kwiatek Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 156	On the blade is a famous couplet from the Gulistan of Sa'di: غرض نقشیست کز ما باز ماند که هستی را نمی بینم بقایی "The aim of this design is that it should outlive us, For I see no permanence in this existence" Down the back of the grip is Surat al-Ikhlas (112) In the cartouche at the back of the base of the blade I would suggest the following فرمایش سردار شیر علی خان "Commission of Sardar Sher 'Ali Khan" The date and name of the maker I read as you have done سنه ۱۲۷۲ "Year 1272 (1854-5)" عمل احمد الله صوفی "Work of Ahmadullah Sufi" The names strongly suggest the owner and maker were from Afghanistan. There was a member of the Barakzai dynasty called Sardar Sher 'Ali Khan who was vizier to the governor in Herat and later governor himself of Kandahar. His dates fit too https://www.royalark.net/Afghanistan/barak5.htm