Well made koummya

[corrado26]

more fotos:

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Late 20TH C.

[Battara]

Yup!

[Bob A]

I'm curious regarding the factors that contribute to the dating process, if anyone would care to comment further.

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Bob A

I'm curious regarding the factors that contribute to the dating process, if anyone would care to comment further.

There are many factors to be taken into consideration when estimating the date:

1. Style - for every weapon the overall style (style = size + shape + general decorations) eolved throughout the history (like for example during the end of Muromachi period, the size of the Japanese Katana decreased to adapt to a new figting style - with one hand - that was in fashion at that time; also the way the sword was worn changed from the Tachi type where the sword was hung edge down from the waist to the Uchigatana style with the sword worn edge up stuck in the obi);

2. Decorations - like with style, the shapes and symbols used in decorating an item evolved constantly, being strongly influenced by various historical events (for example when the Ottoman empire was at its peak, one could find decorations simiar to the Turkish ones throughout much of the Balkans, Arab Peninsula and North of Africa);

3. Materials - materials used in the manufacturing of blades can be an important indicator of their age (for example, one can safely assume a Khanjar with a wootz blade must be older than the begining of 19th century, since wootz production stopped about that time; at the same time, bakelite, plastic, aluminium or stainless steel are quick give-aways for some modern productions);

4. Workmanship - with the passage of time new tools and new techniques were developed and that can provide major indications about the age of a blade (if for example the grooves on a blade were not chiseled by hand but machined with a rotating tool);

5. Aging signs - like rust, oxidation, patina, cracks, wear and the like, are all important age indicators for a piece (for example ivory tends to develop a darker patina and cracks with the passage of time).

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

There are many factors to be taken into consideration when estimating the date:

1. Style - for every weapon the overall style (style = size + shape + general decorations) eveolved throughout the history (like for example during the end of Muromachi period, the size of the Japanese Katana decreased to adapt to a new figting style - with one hand - that was in fashion at that time; also the way the sword was worn changed from the Tachi type where the sword was hung edge down from the waist to the Uchigatana style with the sword worn edge up stuck in the obi);

2. Decorations - like with style, the shapes and symbols used in decorating an item evolved constantly, being strongly influenced by various historical events (for example when the Ottoman empire was at its peak, one could find decorations simiar to the Turkish ones throughout much of the Arab Peninsula and North of Africa);

3. Materials - materials used in the manufacturing of blades can be an important indicator of their age (for example, one can safely assume a Khanjar with a wootz blade must be older than the begining of 19th century, since wootz production stopped about that time);

4. Workmanship - with the passage of time new tools and new techniques were developed and that can provide major indications about the age of a blade (if for example the grooves on a blade were not chiseled by hand but machined with a rotating tool);

5. Aging signs - like rust, oxidation, patina, cracks, wear and the like, are all important age indicators for a piece (for example ivory tends to develop a darker patina and cracks with the passage of time).

A good and informative post

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Bob A

I'm curious regarding the factors that contribute to the dating process, if anyone would care to comment further.

No sign of wear / use at all.

[Kubur]

You have roughly, 3 kinds of koummiya

1/ the 19th ones with a good blade, most of the time a bayonet or a piece of a sword, good grip, good pommel

2/ the 1900-20ties ones with new material such as amber/bakelit
with very often a stamp on the ricasso

3/ the post 1950-60ties like the ones above

http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/guide.html

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Kubur

You have roughly, 3 kinds of koummiya

1/ the 19th ones with a good blade, most of the time a bayonet or a piece of a sword, good grip, good pommel

2/ the 1900-20ties ones with new material such as amber/bakelit
with very often a stamp on the ricasso

3/ the post 1950-60ties like the ones above

http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/guide.html

Hello Kubur,

I would extend the first cathegory into the 20th century, as I have seen good sturdy, traditional examples made at the begining of the 20th century, and merge 2 and 3 into one single cathegory of "modern" Koummiya mainly for tourist market. But I guess this is just a matter of individual preferences.