Indian Ceremonial knife with, possibly, a wootz blade ???

katana · 18th June 2006, 02:57 PM

The young son of a friend has collected several knives, all tourist except, possibly this one. It was bought in a Jewellers (

) in Goa, India.
I am not certain whether the blade is wootz or 'acid etched', when you run your finger nail across the laminations you can feel them easily.

Overall length (knife in scabbard) 24 cm Blade is 14cms

Any ideas how I can determine if this is wootz? Any comments on the knife would be appreciated so I can pass them on to this young, new collector?

ariel · 18th June 2006, 03:36 PM

I think it is tourist as well. Definitely not real wootz (crystalline damascus), but some mechanical laminated pattern, rather crude. Is it acid etched as well? The texture of the blade surface looks uneven, but it may be just my imagination. The koftgary-ish decoration is very new.

Lew · 18th June 2006, 05:05 PM

I agree with Ariel the dagger is newly made and the blade is mechanical damascus steel not wootz. These daggers are produced by a growing cottage industry in India mostly for the American market.

Lew

Jens Nordlunde · 18th June 2006, 05:06 PM

Like Ariel says, the dagger is new and the blade is not wootz. The blade is possible acid treated, but to be sure a better picture is needed.

I have seen daggers the these – new but of a much higher quality. They do make new quality weapons in India, but I guess they can be difficult to find.

Here you can see one example http://arms.en.ec21.com/2/CA00067093/product.html

Battara · 18th June 2006, 08:31 PM

From what I can tell the kofgari is rather crude and in a particular style compared to those of 150 years ago.

katana · 19th June 2006, 12:51 AM

Thanks everyone, I did warn the young lad (I'm feeling old) that I felt that it was not wootz, I have to admit I wasn't certain. Wootz is not something that is common to African blades.
I do know that he paid very little for it, so I don't think it will be a great disappointment to him. He is afterall 10.

18th June 2006, 02:57 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Indian Ceremonial knife with, possibly, a wootz blade ??? The young son of a friend has collected several knives, all tourist except, possibly this one. It was bought in a Jewellers ( ) in Goa, India. I am not certain whether the blade is wootz or 'acid etched', when you run your finger nail across the laminations you can feel them easily. Overall length (knife in scabbard) 24 cm Blade is 14cms Any ideas how I can determine if this is wootz? Any comments on the knife would be appreciated so I can pass them on to this young, new collector? Attached Images

18th June 2006, 05:06 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Like Ariel says, the dagger is new and the blade is not wootz. The blade is possible acid treated, but to be sure a better picture is needed. I have seen daggers the these – new but of a much higher quality. They do make new quality weapons in India, but I guess they can be difficult to find. Here you can see one example http://arms.en.ec21.com/2/CA00067093/product.html Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 18th June 2006 at 05:18 PM.

18th June 2006, 03:36 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I think it is tourist as well. Definitely not real wootz (crystalline damascus), but some mechanical laminated pattern, rather crude. Is it acid etched as well? The texture of the blade surface looks uneven, but it may be just my imagination. The koftgary-ish decoration is very new.

18th June 2006, 05:05 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I agree with Ariel the dagger is newly made and the blade is mechanical damascus steel not wootz. These daggers are produced by a growing cottage industry in India mostly for the American market. Lew

18th June 2006, 08:31 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,229	From what I can tell the kofgari is rather crude and in a particular style compared to those of 150 years ago.

19th June 2006, 12:51 AM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thanks everyone, I did warn the young lad (I'm feeling old) that I felt that it was not wootz, I have to admit I wasn't certain. Wootz is not something that is common to African blades. I do know that he paid very little for it, so I don't think it will be a great disappointment to him. He is afterall 10.