an other sword from my collection..

dralin23 · 24th August 2008, 08:19 AM

hi jim.
at first many thanks for you very intresting long comment. it is the reason that i post some of my swords in the forum. i will learn as much as possible over my swords, than these swords are alo a part of my live( since i was a little dirty boy i build swords from wood and later also from steel and later i bougth very proud my first own ...) and so i will know all from theire history.
it is very intresting what you write as the use from watered steel by the forging from swordblades in india. many things are new for me. i don´t know until now that the produce from wootz steel in india was prohibited 1866. i think it was the tru reason was the english gouverment. so could gb.exported theire iron to india. i have also an khanda in my collection as i bought it it was offered as an 18.th.ct. khanda with an watered steel blade. the polish from the surface wasn´t good, so i can´t see so much. i thought i can see a little bit fom the wootz pattern in the steel. later when i polissh the blade at home and proof what a kind of steel it is i can´t find damascus steel. i try last week again to etch it( i thught i could make a mistake by the first etching) i used a thin nitrid acid (3%) but the end was the same a gray colour without any pattern. i think it is an 18.th. ct. rajasthan khanda, the blade is good, thin and very flexible with sharp edges and neveerless stought.
so was my question what a kind of steel was used to forg it. it is an foreign steel ore make the indian ironproducer also such an kind of steel in theire furnace. you give me a lot of answers.
again, thak you!!

Queequeg · 24th August 2008, 11:42 AM

That's one of the most unique ricassos I've ever seen on a sword. I really like it.

I wonder if it's just for aesthetics or if it has a functional purpose? I'm leaning toward aesthetics, as it already has a hilt.

Jim McDougall · 24th August 2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queequeg

That's one of the most unique ricassos I've ever seen on a sword. I really like it.

I wonder if it's just for aesthetics or if it has a functional purpose? I'm leaning toward aesthetics, as it already has a hilt.

Hi Qeequeg,
Welcome to the mysterious world of ethnographic weapons!! and very well observed. You are exactly right, these often dramatic features on many weapons serve as symbolic devices often representing traditional or religious ideology, particularly many of the unusually shaped weapons in India. As I noted in my typically brief

last post (if one didn't get lost trying to wade through it!) I noted that these were ceremonially intended, probably for court fashion or symbolic bearing type use.

Stefan, I'm glad you found this information useful, as I learned a lot from it as well while compiling it. I'm sure there are likely misconceptions, and as always I look forward to the comments of others more familiar with these aspects of the weapons on India, and the metallurgy of these swords.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful story on the beginnings of your interest in swords, and it is quite clear you've come a very long way my friend!

I'm not sure on the steel used, and as I mentioned, my comprehension of metallurgy is admittedly very limited, but I think you may have a point on the restrictions on forging wootz and emphasis on import of British steel.

All very best regards,
Jim

Jens Nordlunde · 24th August 2008, 04:52 PM

It is true that the production of wootz was prohibited by the English in the Deccan – due to deforresting – they said. As it has been commented, the true reason was, most likely, that the English wanted to sell their blades without too much competition.

In the early days the Muslim merchants, exporting the crusibles to the Middle East had people checking the crusibles before they were shipped, to make sure it was crusibles. In India however, blades were made if mono steel, pattern welded and of wootz steel. It all depender of, how much money the buyer could afford to spend on the blade – as he would also need a hilt as well - decorated if possible.

Tatyana Dianova · 24th August 2008, 08:47 PM

Thank you very much Jim and Jens for the most interesting information

24th August 2008, 08:19 AM	#1
dralin23 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 194	hi jim. at first many thanks for you very intresting long comment. it is the reason that i post some of my swords in the forum. i will learn as much as possible over my swords, than these swords are alo a part of my live( since i was a little dirty boy i build swords from wood and later also from steel and later i bougth very proud my first own ...) and so i will know all from theire history. it is very intresting what you write as the use from watered steel by the forging from swordblades in india. many things are new for me. i don´t know until now that the produce from wootz steel in india was prohibited 1866. i think it was the tru reason was the english gouverment. so could gb.exported theire iron to india. i have also an khanda in my collection as i bought it it was offered as an 18.th.ct. khanda with an watered steel blade. the polish from the surface wasn´t good, so i can´t see so much. i thought i can see a little bit fom the wootz pattern in the steel. later when i polissh the blade at home and proof what a kind of steel it is i can´t find damascus steel. i try last week again to etch it( i thught i could make a mistake by the first etching) i used a thin nitrid acid (3%) but the end was the same a gray colour without any pattern. i think it is an 18.th. ct. rajasthan khanda, the blade is good, thin and very flexible with sharp edges and neveerless stought. so was my question what a kind of steel was used to forg it. it is an foreign steel ore make the indian ironproducer also such an kind of steel in theire furnace. you give me a lot of answers. again, thak you!!

24th August 2008, 11:42 AM	#2
Queequeg Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Detroit (New Mayapan) Posts: 96	That's one of the most unique ricassos I've ever seen on a sword. I really like it. I wonder if it's just for aesthetics or if it has a functional purpose? I'm leaning toward aesthetics, as it already has a hilt.

24th August 2008, 04:52 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	It is true that the production of wootz was prohibited by the English in the Deccan – due to deforresting – they said. As it has been commented, the true reason was, most likely, that the English wanted to sell their blades without too much competition. In the early days the Muslim merchants, exporting the crusibles to the Middle East had people checking the crusibles before they were shipped, to make sure it was crusibles. In India however, blades were made if mono steel, pattern welded and of wootz steel. It all depender of, how much money the buyer could afford to spend on the blade – as he would also need a hilt as well - decorated if possible.

24th August 2008, 08:47 PM	#5
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 735	Thank you very much Jim and Jens for the most interesting information