Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ian · 30th August 2019, 09:37 AM

A recently made Indian or Pakistani piece, perhaps from Rajastan or Lahor where a lot of this modern industry seems to reside.

Some of these modern pieces are quite well made, and many have elaborate silver koftgari work. These are made in sweat shops and the craftsmen/women get very little compensation. Some appear on eBay at exorbitant asking prices, as if they were 300 year-old antiques. Closely related to the modern manufactured ones is the dressing up of old blades with new decorations and fancy hilts (old or new). These marriages are also quite expensive for what they are.

The blade shown here is laminated ("watered") steel. It is not wootz (crucible) steel.

30th August 2019, 09:37 AM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,029	A recently made Indian or Pakistani piece, perhaps from Rajastan or Lahor where a lot of this modern industry seems to reside. Some of these modern pieces are quite well made, and many have elaborate silver koftgari work. These are made in sweat shops and the craftsmen/women get very little compensation. Some appear on eBay at exorbitant asking prices, as if they were 300 year-old antiques. Closely related to the modern manufactured ones is the dressing up of old blades with new decorations and fancy hilts (old or new). These marriages are also quite expensive for what they are. The blade shown here is laminated ("watered") steel. It is not wootz (crucible) steel. Last edited by Ian; 30th August 2019 at 09:49 AM.