[ALEX]

Recently I came across this interesting shamshir. It was found in a dismembered condition, i.e. all parts were separated. The blade was heavily chromed over. Yet the chrome was bleeding enough to yield two stamps, which read:" Shah Abbas. Work of Assad Allah ISFAHANI". The stamps are genuine, and after chrome was carefully removed by electrolytic process, the portion of the blade was polished and etched. It revealed a wonderful wootz with clear ladder formations. But what surprised me is the temper/heat treated? line, or several lines, which run at the edge of the blade. They are of darker color, and the sword appears two-colored. First I thought of two types of metal (soft/hard) were used, BUT the wootz pattern runs via the whole surface of the blade. It appears equally developed on white body and dark edge portions. I know it is very difficult to control wootz when it comes to heat treating, and I wonder if someone knows or have seen anything similar????
I'll post more pictures after restoration.