It is interesting that sometimes these faux wootz patterns were more time consuming and labor intensive than the production of actual wootz. But, that said, considering the times, they were probably still much cheaper.
Some faux wootz, likely like the example here, were produced after the heyday of true wootz production and were an attempt to mimic the quality of the past.
This style of dagger, made in India, were generally made for the British "den market" and the lure of exotic eastern weapons in the late 19th century and early 20th century. This example looks superior to many such daggers save the scabbard, which may be a replacement.
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