[Mp7]

Hi guys,

just bought this in an auction.

Impressive piece 2feet long.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/2405327576_45770bc80c_o.jpg

i like what i see, and it´s very heavy built.
Does this look familiar with anyone?
South America?

Thanks for any input,
Mp7

[Mandirigma]

It looks like a Philippine long knife. I've seen some like that when I was younger. But not anytime recently, maybe someone else will know more.

[HiWayMan]

It is a "Khyber" knife, originally named for the Khyber Pass in Pakistan and Afganistan They are found in the 'Stans and India.

A 10 sec internet search provided the following. Just got to know what you're looking for.;)

http://www.goantiques.com/detail,indian-khyber-knife,1219590.html

[Mp7]

...Mr HiWayMan

looks like it :)

unfortunately the sheath wasnt included,
but for the 80+ $ i paid for it i think
i made a good deal.

...especially with metal prices going up
and it being xtremely heavy built.

no idea why i bought it,
but i like it!

[Mp7]

..gotta correct myself:

i paid only like 45$ for it :)

[hso]

Can we get a brighter picture and a close up of the 4 inches centered on the ferrule? I don't know if we'll be able to see anything, but there's always the remote chance that you could have something with a wootz/damascus blade if it's old enough.

http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1014

[Mp7]

:)

..sorry to interrupt the treasure hunt.
I´m not a newbie to blades, smithing
and material-science.

It´s not damascene... not at all.
(What does wootz mean?)

My guess is, that it´s not older than 50 years
and not made by the personal smith of a tribe´s chief either.....

a pity, but that´s the obvious truth.
Still fine for my collection of useless metal, though :)

...a nice Weekend to all,
Cheers from Hamburg,
Mp7.

[theotherwaldo]

Wootz is a primitive method of making a layer of steel around small lumps of iron by putting small chunks of iron, about the size of fifty-cent pieces, in a mass of carbon-based material like sheep's wool, sealing it all up in a ceramic flask, and put it in a heat source below smelting temperature until "it sounds wet" when shaken. Allow to cool, then work on the forge at the lower ranges of temperature.

This is old-style damascus steel, as originally made in northeastern India.

For newer stuff, check the dealer called ancientarms on EBay. His temper isn't too great, but he turns out pretty nice japanese-style damascus and sometimes comes up with some stuff like what started this thread.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/2404908495_5c476bbfe1_o.jpg

[hso]

Wootz, both modern and ancient - http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoeven-9809.html

[theotherwaldo]

Don't talk to the academics, talk to the smiths. They know. The reason that they can't make new wootz is because that meteoric iron deposit is mined out.

And yeah, it is all in the impurities.

[BBroadside]

"no idea why i bought it,
but i like it!"

I think I have said that about 90% of the knives I've ever bought. (And the other 10% have schmutz from packing tape all over them.)

Great knife! Although I think I'd call it a sword ... looks like it could give a gladius a run for its money. :)

[Mp7]

Hi folks,

...after carrying it home - man i wished for some
idiot youngster to bully me...:) - i am still very happy.
I started sharpening it and have some thoughts about
building a sheath with a wooden inside and a black leather outside....
...it´s always good to have a carpenter-friend.

for the price i paid - it´s definitely great.
Together with an ancient hatchet, the longrifle
and the bp-pistol - and a ww2 Messenger Leatherbag
for the ammo-stuff

i think i´m set in case the revolutionary war breaks out again :)

cheers,
Mp7