Mediterranean knife?

Battara · 30th January 2008, 07:08 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, 04:08 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, 04:28 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, 05:33 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, 08:13 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.......

ausjulius · 6th September 2008, 06:53 AM

may be alittle late to chip in,,, but in all honesty the knife you posted looks like it is from corsica or sardinia... as the native knives look in this fashion......

kahnjar1 · 6th September 2008, 08:36 AM

Just to add to the mystery, my guess would be a KARD from the Balkans area.

katana · 2nd February 2008, 04:37 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, 07:08 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	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, 04:08 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,227	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, 04:28 PM	#3
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, 08:13 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	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.......

6th September 2008, 06:53 AM	#6
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 448	may be alittle late to chip in,,, but in all honesty the knife you posted looks like it is from corsica or sardinia... as the native knives look in this fashion......

6th September 2008, 08:36 AM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	Just to add to the mystery, my guess would be a KARD from the Balkans area.