Mediterranean knife?

[kronckew]

just picked this up on ebay, described as:
===========ebay item description==========
Antique Victorian Egyptian / Islamic design dagger. The dagger dates between 1880-1920 and measures 25cm (10 inches) long. The handle is made of what looks to be pieces of either wood or horn (or both). The blade has some slight corrosion to it (see photos) but otherwise the dagger is in good condition for it's age. blade 6 in.
=====================================
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/knives/MedDagger.jpg

pommel end:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/knives/MedDaggerpommel.jpg

Ebay item link (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320210290768&)

looks more gaucho/spanish or 'mediterranean' to me.

[spiral]

Nice one Kronckew! But well Egypt is still Meditearainian ;) Bolster looks islamic to my eye.

Id say thats all horn rings on the handle.

Blade looks wootzy? But perhaps just old rust tracks? close up picks when you get it would be good.

Spiral

[Battara]

Another possiblity - an old Syrian piece done for the Victorian market?

The horn layers on the hilt and the brass work look Syrian-Lebanese to me.

[RobT]

Hi All,
I agree with Battara. I just looked at my two Majali Shams jambiyia and the butt caps on both (with the exposed tang) look very similar to kronckew's blade.
Sincerely,
RobT

[kronckew]

thanks, it does have the same overall shaped hilt as my little lebanese dagger:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/dagger11.jpg
i knew i'd seen that shaped hilt with a peened brass pommel plate somewhere.
the last weapon i bought that was listed as 'egyptian' was really a very nice dha, so i've learned to be a bit sceptical of 'egyptian' ;)

[Battara]

This last one you posted is more recent. The other one is older perhaps by a century.

[katana]

Well done Kronckew,
I ... like Spiral, also thinks there seems to be a 'wootzy like' patternation......I e-mailed the seller for more pics before the auction ended (just in case) but never received any ......so ended up not bidding. I think it's a nice knife and if it is wootz :cool: ..but please, if it is....would you keep it to yourself ...otherwise I will be 'kicking myself silly' for a fortnight ;)

Kind Regards David

[Battara]

Holy Moses! :eek: Missed that - now I see elements of that in the picture. It may not be for the tourist trade if it is wootz. Import blade with Syrian-Lebanese work.

[kronckew]

well, it arrived today, needed a bit of a clean as it had a layer of black grease on it, a bit of soap and water (plus a light going over with some FeCl followed by a baking soda bath) and a good oiling later.
starboard side
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/Syrian%20Dagger/Wootz005_DCE.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/Syrian%20Dagger/Wootz004_DCE.jpg
port side: the dark areas were where active rust was before cleaning. the light areas were not rusted.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/Syrian%20Dagger/Wootz008_DCE.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/Syrian%20Dagger/Wootz007_DCE.jpg

katana asked i not tell him if it was wootz or not. i thus leave it up for question. ;)

blade is in reasonable shape for 100+years, but of denting on the spine where it had been batonned, there is a slight wiggle in the blade where it likely was bent and straigtened in the past.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/Syrian%20Dagger/Wootz012_DCE.jpg
final shot of right side from another angle. there does seem to be a bit of a dendritic patterning.....
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/Syrian%20Dagger/Wootz011_DCE.jpg
for comparison, a homogeneous steel blade i treated earlier
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/Syrian%20Dagger/marjacq_DCE.jpg

[Ferguson]

Nice piece Kronck! I think I see some type of activity in the steel. Probably easier seen in person than in the photos.

Steve

[katana]

katana asked i not tell him if it was wootz or not. i thus leave it up for question. ;)

final shot of right side from another angle. there does seem to be a bit of a dendritic patterning.....



Oh good.....not wootz then ;)

[kronckew]

Nice piece Kronck! I think I see some type of activity in the steel. Probably easier seen in person than in the photos.

Steve
yes, hard to get just the right angle, not much natural light at the moment & my batteries are now recharging in the camera, will take some more daylight photos tommorrow.

[Battara]

STeve is right - I do see activity - more likely lamination, but it could be wootz (don't think so though) - can tell more after an etch to see.......

[ausjulius]

may be alittle late to chip in,,, but in all honesty the knife you posted looks like it is from corsica or sardinia... as the native knives look in this fashion......

[kahnjar1]

Just to add to the mystery, my guess would be a KARD from the Balkans area. :)