Camel Head Hilted Wootz sword

RSWORD · 16th November 2005, 07:46 PM

I suspect that this is a composite piece but one made from nice parts. The wootz looks great and the blade has a nice profile and arc and really seems to be a quality blade. The handle is a style more typically seen on daggers and on occasion swords. However, in either case, they are not seen with a knucklebow. I suspect the camel pommel and the knuckle bow are later additions to this grip. I would look closely but I believe they are add on's. The camel pommel seems slightly off the handle in the picture, as far as it does not sit flush. The coloration of the metal on the camel and knucklebow varies a fair bit from the handle and I suspect they are from different sources put together. The koftgari on the hilt and the arabic script is quite nice. The blade looks as though it originally had a different hilt style. You can see where the wootz blade has been welded to the tang. Not uncommon but typically this joint would be hidden by the langets of a cross guard or sometimes with koftgari. The fact it is so visible makes me suspect this blade had a different hilting originally.

I think you can't go wrong with a great wootz blade but hopefully it was not sold as an antique or original antique because from the pictures it has a composite feel made from old and new parts.

16th November 2005, 07:46 PM	#11
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	I suspect that this is a composite piece but one made from nice parts. The wootz looks great and the blade has a nice profile and arc and really seems to be a quality blade. The handle is a style more typically seen on daggers and on occasion swords. However, in either case, they are not seen with a knucklebow. I suspect the camel pommel and the knuckle bow are later additions to this grip. I would look closely but I believe they are add on's. The camel pommel seems slightly off the handle in the picture, as far as it does not sit flush. The coloration of the metal on the camel and knucklebow varies a fair bit from the handle and I suspect they are from different sources put together. The koftgari on the hilt and the arabic script is quite nice. The blade looks as though it originally had a different hilt style. You can see where the wootz blade has been welded to the tang. Not uncommon but typically this joint would be hidden by the langets of a cross guard or sometimes with koftgari. The fact it is so visible makes me suspect this blade had a different hilting originally. I think you can't go wrong with a great wootz blade but hopefully it was not sold as an antique or original antique because from the pictures it has a composite feel made from old and new parts.