Arab saif of Syrian style or Kilij saber for ID.

A.alnakkas · 22nd February 2015, 05:55 PM

Hard to tell if its wootz or not without a clean up and an etch. With Syrian hilted swords I am less inclined to say something is wootz with such condition, that is because the industry there can make blades in any shape. What can help us further if you take photos of the spine, it may show a hairline crack on the spine and the Syrian craftsmen often make swords with odd distal tapering. But this one looks genuinely old, the hilt too, maybe 19th century as its silver fitted. The iron fitted ones are often early to very late 20th century. Worth checking if its silver and not some white metal.

22nd February 2015, 05:55 PM	#8
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Hard to tell if its wootz or not without a clean up and an etch. With Syrian hilted swords I am less inclined to say something is wootz with such condition, that is because the industry there can make blades in any shape. What can help us further if you take photos of the spine, it may show a hairline crack on the spine and the Syrian craftsmen often make swords with odd distal tapering. But this one looks genuinely old, the hilt too, maybe 19th century as its silver fitted. The iron fitted ones are often early to very late 20th century. Worth checking if its silver and not some white metal.