Luzon Bolo With Wootz Blade!

kai · 25th August 2005, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

However, you can also find similar patterns in Japanese sword from their complex folding of steel resulting in hada which can have a very wootz like appearance. Andrew has a dha in which the body of the blade has a fantastic "hada" which resembles sham wootz but from other details of the blade we know it is of sandwhich lamination in which the cheeks of the steel are of this folded steel with inserted hardened edge. After thinking more about this piece, I believe it is probably of sandwhich lamination in which the cheeks are of folded steel with an inserted edge.

Hi Rsword,

That seems possible. So we need a microscopic examination to get a conclusive answer...

Quote:

By the way, not all wootz heat treated blades lose their pattern along the edge. It is all in the way the smith controls the temperature. I have several wootz examples where the edges are heat treated but the pattern is still visible but the heat treated zone shows up as a different color than the rest of the blade.

Thanks! That feat sounds really like dancing on an edge, literally...

Is there anything known about the practices of edge hardening with wootz?

Regards,
Kai

Ferguson · 25th August 2005, 02:18 AM

You know guys, this thread is an example of what makes this forum great. While there is disagreement, it is civil, friendly, kind and sticks to the facts. I salute you all.

Steve Ferguson

Battara · 25th August 2005, 07:12 AM

Hi again folks. First off, here are pics of my gunong and a very detailed closeup of the blade lamination. I must admit, although it resembles wootz, it is not crystaline like wootz. Many Indian blades are not wootz. but I love the close blade lamination of this puppy and this is one of the many reasons that I keep it.

Battara · 25th August 2005, 07:15 AM

Here is a Kurdish jambiya I have for comparison. Notice the difference in structure (though close to the gunong). This is a wootz blade.

Battara · 25th August 2005, 07:22 AM

Finally here is an Ottoman jambiya with wootz closeup. I must admit at first I had trouble telling the wootz from really good lamination, but now I look at how the patterns fall back on themselves or how the crystalization is. Although you can see some swirling in this closeup, you can see the crystalization easily.

Side note, Ann glad you went to the museum. Let me know when you come in town to see the museum again. What did you think of the place?

Lew · 25th August 2005, 12:31 PM

Battara

Can you provide us with a closeup that covers a wider area of the gunong need to see more of the pattern.

Lew

Spunjer · 25th August 2005, 04:32 PM

i know we're talking about the blade, but does anybody notice the deco on the handle? besides the stars, there's also the crescent moon (ibeam brought this up), most likely denoting Islam. i realize it's a luzon bolo (or is it? hmmm), but the original owner prolly has some roots in mindanao. this could be a clue...

25th August 2005, 07:12 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,346	Hi again folks. First off, here are pics of my gunong and a very detailed closeup of the blade lamination. I must admit, although it resembles wootz, it is not crystaline like wootz. Many Indian blades are not wootz. but I love the close blade lamination of this puppy and this is one of the many reasons that I keep it. Attached Images

25th August 2005, 07:15 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,346	Here is a Kurdish jambiya I have for comparison. Notice the difference in structure (though close to the gunong). This is a wootz blade. Attached Images

25th August 2005, 07:22 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,346	Finally here is an Ottoman jambiya with wootz closeup. I must admit at first I had trouble telling the wootz from really good lamination, but now I look at how the patterns fall back on themselves or how the crystalization is. Although you can see some swirling in this closeup, you can see the crystalization easily. Side note, Ann glad you went to the museum. Let me know when you come in town to see the museum again. What did you think of the place? Attached Images

25th August 2005, 02:18 AM	#2
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	You know guys, this thread is an example of what makes this forum great. While there is disagreement, it is civil, friendly, kind and sticks to the facts. I salute you all. Steve Ferguson

25th August 2005, 12:31 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Battara Can you provide us with a closeup that covers a wider area of the gunong need to see more of the pattern. Lew

25th August 2005, 04:32 PM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	i know we're talking about the blade, but does anybody notice the deco on the handle? besides the stars, there's also the crescent moon (ibeam brought this up), most likely denoting Islam. i realize it's a luzon bolo (or is it? hmmm), but the original owner prolly has some roots in mindanao. this could be a clue...