Ram's head khanjar for comment

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Here is another one with a horse head hilt, this one though is described as being cast, I think the lion head one may be cast as well, there seems to be a what could be a casting line on it (red arrrows).

Of course it is originally cast. Almost all metallic hilts are first cast in a raw shape, then chiseled to give them the final detailed shape.

They are definitely not chiseled directly from a raw iron ingot.

And one of the easiest things to do is to polish off the casting line.

[Cthulhu]

One thing I'm noticing in the hilt photos is that there don't seem to be a lot (aside from ones that are modern) where there are horns or ears that stick out very far. It's one thing for a hilt to be carved to look like a lion/tiger/bear/etc, but perhaps it's entirely another for it to have actual horns. My dagger appears to have horns made separately and welded into place. Or...it's just occurred to me...perhaps they're epoxied into place. There's a lot of blackness and discoloration right around the base of the horns. Is there a non-destructive test for epoxy or other glues?

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

One thing I'm noticing in the hilt photos is that there don't seem to be a lot (aside from ones that are modern) where there are horns or ears that stick out very far. It's one thing for a hilt to be carved to look like a lion/tiger/bear/etc, but perhaps it's entirely another for it to have actual horns. My dagger appears to have horns made separately and welded into place. Or...it's just occurred to me...perhaps they're epoxied into place. There's a lot of blackness and discoloration right around the base of the horns. Is there a non-destructive test for epoxy or other glues?

I assume that if you polish the area until it is completely free of oxidation, and examine it with a magnifying glass, you should be able to tell if it was welded or glued. But this might be seen as destructive already.


PS: However, this is a very interesting observation that would almost certainly indicate a much more recent production.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Of course it is originally cast. Almost all metallic hilts are first cast in a raw shape, then chiseled to give them the final detailed shape.

They are definitely not chiseled directly from a raw iron ingot.

Interesting, I did not give the process much thought, but if this was the case there really should be more examples.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Could be that it was made in cire-perdy (or however it is spelled). In that case there would likely only be one example.

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Could be that it was made in cire-perdy (or however it is spelled). In that case there would likely only be one example.

Cire-perdue (lost-wax) process maybe if it were bronze but almost certainly not iron.

On second thoughts, I doubt that the horns can be cast even in bronze with the wax process.

[Battara]

Horns can be done in lost wax, but if iron - crazy difficult and in parts.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Cire-perdue (lost-wax) process maybe if it were bronze but almost certainly not iron.

I think sand casting would be the method for making an iron / steel hilt, lost wax is good for metals with a low melting point. With sand casting I do not think you would get as much detail as you would with lost wax.

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by estcrh

I think sand casting would be the method for making an iron / steel hilt, lost wax is good for metals with a low melting point. With sand casting I do not think you would get as much detail as you would with lost wax.

Exactly! That's why after casting, the Iron hilts need to be processed to give them the desired finish and detail.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Another rams head

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

More rams...http://suroorasia.blogspot.com/2014/...-oriental.html shows an excellent multiple and is from a very famous author...