My first wootz piece

CourseEight · 27th May 2008, 06:15 PM

Well, after several disappointing endeavors with rust tracks, I finally own something that is clearly made of wootz, a Qajar khanjar. I don't have any questions about this piece in particular, but of course I would appreciate any comments you have to give!

--Radleigh

ALEX · 27th May 2008, 06:23 PM

I have only positive comments:-) In fact, too positive... what an outstanding dagger! Do you mean the hilt and scabbard are of wootz as well?
Simply incredible! Many congrats!!!!

ward · 27th May 2008, 06:28 PM

that is a very nice well executed piece. You definatly got a nice one

Lew · 27th May 2008, 07:03 PM

Looks like a recently made piece to me

I think you should pack it up and ship it right to me this way you can get the over grief this bad purchased has caused you

. Only fooling dude

. That is a stunning piece congrats!

Lew

shangrila · 27th May 2008, 07:15 PM

Your wootz is very nice.

Just stunning

shangrila · 27th May 2008, 07:17 PM

And the koftgari is also perfect.

Valjhun · 27th May 2008, 08:40 PM

WOW! Stunning piece indeed. Top class qajar piece.

RSWORD · 28th May 2008, 01:20 AM

The khanjar is lovely and the wootz panels are quite nice. The edges seem blunt and with the high mid-rib the panels almost look like seperate pieces that have been welded into place. Can almost make out seam lines between the wootz and the edges. Certainly one way to achieve the deeply hollowed "panels" without having to forge a blade into those contours. Am I seeing things here?

CourseEight · 28th May 2008, 06:14 PM

Thanks to eveyone for all your kind responses. To answer the questions:

Alex -- I do not believe the fittings are wootz. It is difficult to tell with all the engraving but I tried a polish and etch on one of the more flat portions and it didn't reveal much. A trip to Oriental Arms would seem to confirm that most of the wootz-bladed Qajar pieces still had normal steel mounts:

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/searc...22+%22wootz%22

So mine would seem to be in line with the norm.

Rsword -- I could see how from the pictures you would think that. I've looked at it closely, and I can say for sure that: (1) The outer ribs are wootz as well, (2) The inner rib is definately the same piece of steel as the "panels", and (3) The inner rib joins to the outer ribs at the tip seemlessly, so it is most likely all one piece. The black lines you see in the photo are actually closer to the chiseled lines around the floral work on the blade, so I'm guessing after forging the outer ribs were accentuated by putting a deeper groove along the inside of them. As to why it is not sharp, well, I'm not really sure to what extent pieces like this were made for local consumption, and to what extent locally used ones would have actually needed an edge.

Thanks a lot again everyone,

--Radleigh

27th May 2008, 06:15 PM	#1
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	My first wootz piece Well, after several disappointing endeavors with rust tracks, I finally own something that is clearly made of wootz, a Qajar khanjar. I don't have any questions about this piece in particular, but of course I would appreciate any comments you have to give! --Radleigh Attached Images

27th May 2008, 07:03 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Looks like a recently made piece to me I think you should pack it up and ship it right to me this way you can get the over grief this bad purchased has caused you . Only fooling dude . That is a stunning piece congrats! Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 27th May 2008 at 07:16 PM.

27th May 2008, 06:23 PM	#2
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	I have only positive comments:-) In fact, too positive... what an outstanding dagger! Do you mean the hilt and scabbard are of wootz as well? Simply incredible! Many congrats!!!!

27th May 2008, 06:28 PM	#3
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	that is a very nice well executed piece. You definatly got a nice one

27th May 2008, 07:15 PM	#5
shangrila Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 31	Your wootz is very nice. Just stunning

27th May 2008, 07:17 PM	#6
shangrila Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 31	And the koftgari is also perfect.

27th May 2008, 08:40 PM	#7
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	WOW! Stunning piece indeed. Top class qajar piece.

28th May 2008, 01:20 AM	#8
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	The khanjar is lovely and the wootz panels are quite nice. The edges seem blunt and with the high mid-rib the panels almost look like seperate pieces that have been welded into place. Can almost make out seam lines between the wootz and the edges. Certainly one way to achieve the deeply hollowed "panels" without having to forge a blade into those contours. Am I seeing things here?

28th May 2008, 06:14 PM	#9
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	Thanks to eveyone for all your kind responses. To answer the questions: Alex -- I do not believe the fittings are wootz. It is difficult to tell with all the engraving but I tried a polish and etch on one of the more flat portions and it didn't reveal much. A trip to Oriental Arms would seem to confirm that most of the wootz-bladed Qajar pieces still had normal steel mounts: http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/searc...22+%22wootz%22 So mine would seem to be in line with the norm. Rsword -- I could see how from the pictures you would think that. I've looked at it closely, and I can say for sure that: (1) The outer ribs are wootz as well, (2) The inner rib is definately the same piece of steel as the "panels", and (3) The inner rib joins to the outer ribs at the tip seemlessly, so it is most likely all one piece. The black lines you see in the photo are actually closer to the chiseled lines around the floral work on the blade, so I'm guessing after forging the outer ribs were accentuated by putting a deeper groove along the inside of them. As to why it is not sharp, well, I'm not really sure to what extent pieces like this were made for local consumption, and to what extent locally used ones would have actually needed an edge. Thanks a lot again everyone, --Radleigh