Wootz or Mechanical Damascus?

ALEX · 4th March 2008, 07:07 PM

Teodor, I understand your inclanation to think of this as mechanical. It does show well formed, bold and prominent pattern. Jeff also has a good point about the mechanical "swirls".
However, as pointed out by Lew, it displays some planar distortions, and what clearly appears to be a "ladder" formation, aka "Kirk Narduban" wootz pattern (and very attractive one

So, I am with Lew.
Let's see what others think...
My guess on age, and very distant one, would be late 18/early 19th Cent.

galvano · 4th March 2008, 07:44 PM

mechanical damascus
galvano

RSWORD · 4th March 2008, 08:17 PM

I also vote for a mechanical damascus and would love to see it polished up properly as the blades current state doesn't allow the full appreciation of the pattern. While you do see a vertical distortion it doesn't appear to be regularly appearing at least from the pics we can see. Also, a ladder pattern is a mechanical manipulation of wootz and this can also be done in a pattern weld. Another note is the lack of a pattern at all along the edge. This would suggest the blade has a high carbon inserted edge plate with the mechanical damascus "cheeks". An inserted edge along with the active pattern does seem to point to India as a possible origin of the blade.

TVV · 4th March 2008, 08:45 PM

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your quick replies. I chose the photos, on which the pattern resembled wootz the most on purpose. Now here are some additional photos, which I think will support Rick's excellent observations.

Regards,

Teodor

ariel · 4th March 2008, 10:52 PM

I vote for mechanical.
There are plenty of "ladder-like" mechanical examples in Manfred Sachse's book. Rick is unquestionably correct: ladder is an artificial embellishment and can be applied to either variety of damascus-type blades. And, of course, the inserted edge is a dead giveaway.
Nice blade, no doubt.

Lew · 4th March 2008, 11:00 PM

Yes now that better pics are posted I must change my opinion mechanical it is.

Lew

Andrew · 5th March 2008, 03:09 AM

+1 Mechanical. +1 Indian.

ALEX · 5th March 2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Yes now that better pics are posted I must change my opinion mechanical it is.

Lew

As I mentioned earlier - I am with Lew

and especially after seeing the rest of the blade:-)
Nice blade!

4th March 2008, 08:45 PM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,738	Gentlemen, Thank you for your quick replies. I chose the photos, on which the pattern resembled wootz the most on purpose. Now here are some additional photos, which I think will support Rick's excellent observations. Regards, Teodor Attached Images

4th March 2008, 07:07 PM	#1
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Teodor, I understand your inclanation to think of this as mechanical. It does show well formed, bold and prominent pattern. Jeff also has a good point about the mechanical "swirls". However, as pointed out by Lew, it displays some planar distortions, and what clearly appears to be a "ladder" formation, aka "Kirk Narduban" wootz pattern (and very attractive one So, I am with Lew. Let's see what others think... My guess on age, and very distant one, would be late 18/early 19th Cent.

4th March 2008, 07:44 PM	#2
galvano Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 178	mechanical damascus galvano

4th March 2008, 08:17 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,094	I also vote for a mechanical damascus and would love to see it polished up properly as the blades current state doesn't allow the full appreciation of the pattern. While you do see a vertical distortion it doesn't appear to be regularly appearing at least from the pics we can see. Also, a ladder pattern is a mechanical manipulation of wootz and this can also be done in a pattern weld. Another note is the lack of a pattern at all along the edge. This would suggest the blade has a high carbon inserted edge plate with the mechanical damascus "cheeks". An inserted edge along with the active pattern does seem to point to India as a possible origin of the blade.

4th March 2008, 10:52 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I vote for mechanical. There are plenty of "ladder-like" mechanical examples in Manfred Sachse's book. Rick is unquestionably correct: ladder is an artificial embellishment and can be applied to either variety of damascus-type blades. And, of course, the inserted edge is a dead giveaway. Nice blade, no doubt.

4th March 2008, 11:00 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Yes now that better pics are posted I must change my opinion mechanical it is. Lew

5th March 2008, 03:09 AM	#7
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	+1 Mechanical. +1 Indian.