Hilt Replacement on an Indian Dagger.

[TimW]

I am not here to judge or tell right from wrong. I am here like all of us to learn about what we all love: ancient arms. The discussion on the choices we make whilst restoring and reworking old pieces and the reasoning behind them is as interesting as the pieces themselves.

I did not question the quality of the workmanship by the way... I am a semi pro knifemaker and can imagine the amount of time and energy invested in this piece.

Last but not least: I just try to be honest in what I tell. If I wanted to get the highest count possible, it would be easier to just say: 'Wauw, that looks great'. As I told allready, I'm here to learn, not to get into verbal fights.

[A.alnakkas]

Imho, the best of eloquence is to say so much in very little.

On topic:

As Gene have already said, Indians generally use some mineral type for such daggers. Though they may have used bakerlite aswell? It certainly looks beautiful now (would look better if you flip it so it can have flow) but it looks like a hybrid. Thats not bad ofcourse!

I noticed that indian silver workers here can do koftgari easily and some can do the animal hilt shapes so if you would contact one they might help alot in teaching your team how to imitate koftgari.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

Imho, the best of eloquence is to say so much in very little.

On topic:

As Gene have already said, Indians generally use some mineral type for such daggers. Though they may have used bakerlite aswell? It certainly looks beautiful now (would look better if you flip it so it can have flow) but it looks like a hybrid. Thats not bad ofcourse!

I noticed that indian silver workers here can do koftgari easily and some can do the animal hilt shapes so if you would contact one they might help alot in teaching your team how to imitate koftgari.

Salaams,
The technique "koftgari" or as some people call it "damascening" (small d) is amazing to watch... my workshop can do it but it seems to be reserved more for steel application not horn handles... I have got a nice horse head in jade so I could have used that and would like to have a go at setting precious stones. The best contemporary koftgari Ive seen done was in Kabul this year but I know an Indian workshop which also excells and the speed they work at is mind boggling ! I have looked at the Metropolitan Museums animal hilts and they are staggering in detail and from the Shah Jehan period ... say no more. Just taking on a project like this means hours thumbing through Indian reference books and of course the forum archives ~ I can recommend giving simple restoration a go to anyone keen and capable and who is able to take their time. It helps if the work is able to be reversed as in this case but as you know that is in essence what happens with blades and hilts .. down the ages they get changed often changed up to a more expensive combination; so it goes on.

INFH ~ IM NOT FLIPPING HILTS ! Thanks for the note and best regards Ya Sheikh... Shukran Jazeelan !

Regards,
Ibrahiim.