Nice pesh kabz

[ward]

acid does not effect gold only silver or brass.nail polish or wax acts as a resist. You only want to etch the panel on the blade anyway

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by ward

acid does not effect gold only silver or brass.nail polish or wax acts as a resist. You only want to etch the panel on the blade anyway

Although that's of course true, the gold can be loosened or lost completely if the acid can start to get underneath the edges. Which is what I meant.
It depends on the quality of the koftgari, and the quality of the steel, but I would still advise some caution with those areas. Especially when the Koftgari is worn and quite fine.
Nail polish is a good idea. Especially if you're using a hot solution as suggested. Or for slow but safe, wax and lemon juice, then boiling water to take the wax off.

I'm interested that nobody has ventured a guess as to if the dagger is wootz or not yet? Any thoughts?