Searching for a Coftgari artist in Europe

Roland_M · 19th August 2016, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Hello Roland,

Fantastic blade and in very good condition. But didn't see too much of the koftgari.

Hello Marius,

this is all what's left over. Enough Information for a new koftgari.

mariusgmioc · 19th August 2016, 04:43 PM

Well, I don't know if it is sufficient information for new Koftgari. It seems to be rather faint to me.

As with regards to the scales, while ebony may be hard to find, you certainly have alternatives to the grenadil. Walnut is rather easy to find. Mahogany and palisander are also quite easy to get from old, broken furniture. In the end, I guess that any kind of hardwod would do since it can be dyed to look almost like ebony, but...

... probably will look better with black buffalo horn.

David · 20th August 2016, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Well, I don't know if it is sufficient information for new Koftgari. It seems to be rather faint to me.

Personally i would have to agree with Marius on this one. While i do understand that we all have our own ideas as to what restoration is i don't see that you really have enough of the koftgari left on this blade to legitimately "return" it to its past splendor. It would be very unlikely the whatever pattern you would have an artist place on this blade would be anything like what was there before. So you would not be "restoring" the blade in that context, but inventing it anew. It's yours to do with as you please i suppose, but that might be somewhat misleading to the next generations that might become its caretaker in the future.

ariel · 20th August 2016, 02:44 AM

I agree. New koftgari will stick out as a sre thumb. It will be not authentic.
Same with the handle. This sword has history in it. Do not destroy it.

Rick · 20th August 2016, 04:02 AM

Well, if you really must; maybe something to inspire the artist whoever he might be?
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=kilij

A. G. Maisey · 20th August 2016, 05:28 AM

If you want good quality black ebony, I suggest that you do the rounds of musical instrument makers, especially stringed instrument maker.

EDIT

See item 75, "Imported Timbers ---"

http://www.trendtimbers.com.au/complete-timber-list.php

I have dealt with these people in the past, they have always been obliging and cooperative.. Quite simply, they are timber fanatics.

You could try these people too, going back a few years I was able to buy some very large slabs of ebony from them.

http://anagote.com/timbers-sydney/

mariusgmioc · 20th August 2016, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

If you want good quality black ebony, I suggest that you do the rounds of musical instrument makers, especially stringed instrument maker.

EDIT

See item 75, "Imported Timbers ---"

http://www.trendtimbers.com.au/complete-timber-list.php

I have dealt with these people in the past, they have always been obliging and cooperative.. Quite simply, they are timber fanatics.

You could try these people too, going back a few years I was able to buy some very large slabs of ebony from them.

http://anagote.com/timbers-sydney/

Wow!

Thank you Alan! This is brilliant information!

asomotif · 20th August 2016, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

I agree. New koftgari will stick out as a sre thumb. It will be not authentic.
Same with the handle. This sword has history in it. Do not destroy it.

Dear Ariel,

The hilt looks like relic state to me.

What do you suggest ?

ariel · 20th August 2016, 03:44 PM

Not only relic: ruined.

But the attraction is in the blade.
If one could fin a rhino handle ( by itself or on a cheap ruined blade), I would seriously consider using it. But making a new handle..... I am uncomfortable about it.
Just as drawing a new koftgari.

Drabant1701 · 20th August 2016, 05:19 PM

I was in a very similar situation as you some time ago, Roland. I had purchased a pala sword with a grip that was totally ruined, it was made of horn but had been eaten by insects or similar. I would not have minded if it was just damaged but it was almost nothing left.

Here is my experience:
At first I wanted to make a new grip out of rhino horn, but that proved hard to aquire. I ended up makeing the grip out of ebony hard wood that was rivited with brass staffs (?). I keept the grip strap from the original, it would have been easier to make a new one as the old was not straight.

The result was ok, i kept the size from the original grip, it was however an late 19th century grip so I cant be sure of how it had looked when it was new.

I do however agree with Ariel, it does look alright but it feels wrong. It is however a difficult situation when the grip is totally broken. Finding a grip from an old sword that fits you blade would meen that you would have to use the grip strap from the new sword, and hope that the tang fits the new grip could take many years before something that fits comes your way.

One possible way to go is to find a metal grip where the grip and cross guard is in one piece, or something like the grips on an afghan poulwar.

Good luck with your project.

mariusgmioc · 20th August 2016, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

If one could fin a rhino handle ( by itself or on a cheap ruined blade), I would seriously consider using it. But making a new handle.....

This is an excellent idea but I guess it would be rather difficult to put into practice. But it is worth exploring as you may never know.

I agree with you as I wouldn't touch the koftgari anyhow.

20th August 2016, 05:28 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	If you want good quality black ebony, I suggest that you do the rounds of musical instrument makers, especially stringed instrument maker. EDIT See item 75, "Imported Timbers ---" http://www.trendtimbers.com.au/complete-timber-list.php I have dealt with these people in the past, they have always been obliging and cooperative.. Quite simply, they are timber fanatics. You could try these people too, going back a few years I was able to buy some very large slabs of ebony from them. http://anagote.com/timbers-sydney/ Last edited by A. G. Maisey; 20th August 2016 at 01:34 PM.

19th August 2016, 04:43 PM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	Well, I don't know if it is sufficient information for new Koftgari. It seems to be rather faint to me. As with regards to the scales, while ebony may be hard to find, you certainly have alternatives to the grenadil. Walnut is rather easy to find. Mahogany and palisander are also quite easy to get from old, broken furniture. In the end, I guess that any kind of hardwod would do since it can be dyed to look almost like ebony, but... ... probably will look better with black buffalo horn.

20th August 2016, 02:44 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I agree. New koftgari will stick out as a sre thumb. It will be not authentic. Same with the handle. This sword has history in it. Do not destroy it.

20th August 2016, 04:02 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Well, if you really must; maybe something to inspire the artist whoever he might be? http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=kilij

20th August 2016, 03:44 PM	#9
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Not only relic: ruined. But the attraction is in the blade. If one could fin a rhino handle ( by itself or on a cheap ruined blade), I would seriously consider using it. But making a new handle..... I am uncomfortable about it. Just as drawing a new koftgari.

20th August 2016, 05:19 PM	#10
Drabant1701 Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 181	I was in a very similar situation as you some time ago, Roland. I had purchased a pala sword with a grip that was totally ruined, it was made of horn but had been eaten by insects or similar. I would not have minded if it was just damaged but it was almost nothing left. Here is my experience: At first I wanted to make a new grip out of rhino horn, but that proved hard to aquire. I ended up makeing the grip out of ebony hard wood that was rivited with brass staffs (?). I keept the grip strap from the original, it would have been easier to make a new one as the old was not straight. The result was ok, i kept the size from the original grip, it was however an late 19th century grip so I cant be sure of how it had looked when it was new. I do however agree with Ariel, it does look alright but it feels wrong. It is however a difficult situation when the grip is totally broken. Finding a grip from an old sword that fits you blade would meen that you would have to use the grip strap from the new sword, and hope that the tang fits the new grip could take many years before something that fits comes your way. One possible way to go is to find a metal grip where the grip and cross guard is in one piece, or something like the grips on an afghan poulwar. Good luck with your project.