Kattara Restoration Redux

[Andrew]

Let's try this again. :shrug:

Hello

I need some help to restore a kattara.
I looked on the forum and unfortunatly I didn't find any thread to help me.
The hilt is plain wood without leather.

I have two options,

I can cover it with plain leather black or brown.
May be with printed motives (with hot iron).

My second option is more ambitious, to cover the hilt with
a geometric design of metal wire.
I have seen on many kattara.
But I don't know which kind of wire to use
and how to proceed...

Many thanks in advance
K.
Dear Ibrahim,

It's simple you have already some photos on the site:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16323&highlight=kattara

I don't know anything about the guy who put these photos.
What I know is the sword was in the collection of Eric Laudes who sold it to a guy who sold it to a guy who sold it me...
It's a nice sword but needs a little bit of improvement for the handle/grip.
What do you think?

Choukran
Kubur

[kahnjar1]

Hi Kubur,
The pics from your original thread (now closed), are no longer there, but from what I remember the hilt was a rather attractive mottled pattern. If it were mine I would be inclined to leave it as it is without any addition of a cover.
Better I believe to repair what needs repair, and leave the rest showing it's age and use.
Your call of course.............
Perhaps you could re-post the original pics?
Stu

[Robert]

Here are the photos associated with the original thread.

Robert

[kahnjar1]

Thanks Robert for posting the pics.
As stated before, my inclination would be to leave the hilt as it is.
As an aside here, it appears from the pics that this hilt is not the usual "slab sided" variety often found under any covering, but is one piece, and from this I assume that the tang is somehow fixed inside it, with the pommel added afterwards??
Stu

[Sajen]

Not my area of collecting but I also would let the handle in this state, the patination look very nice.

Regards,
Detlef

[Robert]

Kubur, I very much agree with Stu and Detlef and believe that not much more than a possible cleaning after it has passed through so many hands should be done to this piece. I had fully intended to post this when I moved the photos to this new thread, but being sidetracked so easily anymore :shrug:

Best,
Robert

[Iain]

From what I see in the images nothing needs to be done to this piece. It is in stable condition. At the most a coating of renaissance wax, or if you prefer, oil for the blade. Otherwise it would be a pity to do anything to it. :)

[Kubur]

Thank you very very much all!!
In fact, I discovered, that in fact, the handle is covered with a thick brown leather with a nice patina. It was not the wood!!
So I won't touch anything.
I will spend my time on my new Abu fila or Omani matchlock...

[spiral]

I agree with the others, if a modern wrap was added it would become a lesser piece in my eyes & would stand out as ill matching with that old warhorse of a blade.

Spiral