fossil_digger Report This Comment Date: June 29, 2007 01:20AM
This Jambiya / Khanjar dagger is Persian, Qajar period, mid 19 C. Very fine
curved blade with central rib, finely forged from watered steel (Wootz,
Damascus) of clear and high contrast pattern. The top of the blade is decorated
with a tiger (??) attacking an antelope, inlaid with gold koftgari work. The
handle and the scabbard are made of steel, finely chiseled in a classical Qajar
decoration style of human and animal figures, in a thick floral background. Both
handle and scabbard were gold washed, now mostly gone. Total length 18 inches.
Anonymous Report This Comment Date: June 29, 2007 07:33AM
EXTRA ! EXTRA ! EGYPT OUTLAWS FEMALE CIRCUMSION ! EXTRA ! EXTRA !
Anonymous Report This Comment Date: July 06, 2007 06:19AM
The secret of making Wootz steel has been lost for centuries. It had the
unusual property of been able to keep a very sharp edge while not being brittle.
It can be recognized by it's characteristic wavy banding on it's surface.