Mediterranean knife?

Battara · 30th January 2008, 07:55 PM

This last one you posted is more recent. The other one is older perhaps by a century.

katana · 30th January 2008, 08:04 PM

Well done Kronckew,
I ... like Spiral, also thinks there seems to be a 'wootzy like' patternation......I e-mailed the seller for more pics before the auction ended (just in case) but never received any ......so ended up not bidding. I think it's a nice knife and if it is wootz

..but please, if it is....would you keep it to yourself ...otherwise I will be 'kicking myself silly' for a fortnight

Kind Regards David

Battara · 30th January 2008, 08:08 PM

Holy Moses!

Missed that - now I see elements of that in the picture. It may not be for the tourist trade if it is wootz. Import blade with Syrian-Lebanese work.

kronckew · 2nd February 2008, 05:08 PM

well, it arrived today, needed a bit of a clean as it had a layer of black grease on it, a bit of soap and water (plus a light going over with some FeCl followed by a baking soda bath) and a good oiling later.
starboard side

port side: the dark areas were where active rust was before cleaning. the light areas were not rusted.

katana asked i not tell him if it was wootz or not. i thus leave it up for question.

blade is in reasonable shape for 100+years, but of denting on the spine where it had been batonned, there is a slight wiggle in the blade where it likely was bent and straigtened in the past.

final shot of right side from another angle. there does seem to be a bit of a dendritic patterning.....

for comparison, a homogeneous steel blade i treated earlier

Ferguson · 2nd February 2008, 05:28 PM

Nice piece Kronck! I think I see some type of activity in the steel. Probably easier seen in person than in the photos.

Steve

kronckew · 2nd February 2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

Nice piece Kronck! I think I see some type of activity in the steel. Probably easier seen in person than in the photos.

Steve

yes, hard to get just the right angle, not much natural light at the moment & my batteries are now recharging in the camera, will take some more daylight photos tommorrow.

Battara · 2nd February 2008, 09:13 PM

STeve is right - I do see activity - more likely lamination, but it could be wootz (don't think so though) - can tell more after an etch to see.......

katana · 2nd February 2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

katana asked i not tell him if it was wootz or not. i thus leave it up for question.

final shot of right side from another angle. there does seem to be a bit of a dendritic patterning.....

Oh good.....not wootz then

30th January 2008, 07:55 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,363	This last one you posted is more recent. The other one is older perhaps by a century.

30th January 2008, 08:04 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Well done Kronckew, I ... like Spiral, also thinks there seems to be a 'wootzy like' patternation......I e-mailed the seller for more pics before the auction ended (just in case) but never received any ......so ended up not bidding. I think it's a nice knife and if it is wootz ..but please, if it is....would you keep it to yourself ...otherwise I will be 'kicking myself silly' for a fortnight Kind Regards David

30th January 2008, 08:08 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,363	Holy Moses! Missed that - now I see elements of that in the picture. It may not be for the tourist trade if it is wootz. Import blade with Syrian-Lebanese work.

2nd February 2008, 05:08 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,263	well, it arrived today, needed a bit of a clean as it had a layer of black grease on it, a bit of soap and water (plus a light going over with some FeCl followed by a baking soda bath) and a good oiling later. starboard side port side: the dark areas were where active rust was before cleaning. the light areas were not rusted. katana asked i not tell him if it was wootz or not. i thus leave it up for question. blade is in reasonable shape for 100+years, but of denting on the spine where it had been batonned, there is a slight wiggle in the blade where it likely was bent and straigtened in the past. final shot of right side from another angle. there does seem to be a bit of a dendritic patterning..... for comparison, a homogeneous steel blade i treated earlier

2nd February 2008, 05:28 PM	#5
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Nice piece Kronck! I think I see some type of activity in the steel. Probably easier seen in person than in the photos. Steve

2nd February 2008, 09:13 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,363	STeve is right - I do see activity - more likely lamination, but it could be wootz (don't think so though) - can tell more after an etch to see.......