Searching for a Coftgari artist in Europe

[asomotif]

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]

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]

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.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

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.

Hello Drabant,

rhino horn is the original design but I decided to use either African blackwood (grenadilla) or buffalo horn because of the CITES ban. In Germany rhino horn is much more critical than ivory for example. Even as a Museum it is forbidden to present rhino horn, independent on its age.

Can you show some pictures of your restoration please?

I have added two pictures of the current state, the first side of the sword is almost done.
If one look careful, the hamon is already visible. Because of the hardness of the cutting edge, the work was pretty exhausting. I do everything without machines, only with my poor fingers.


Roland

[Drabant1701]

Here are some pictures from the restoration. As you can see it was in quite bad shape. Im not sure if it was rhino horn or something else. There was a cloth ribbon (?) wraped around it it was probably red long ago I dyed it grey and put it back.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

Here are some pictures from the restoration. As you can see it was in quite bad shape. Im not sure if it was rhino horn or something else. There was a cloth ribbon (?) wraped around it it was probably red long ago I dyed it grey and put it back.

Hello Drabant,

thank you for showing the pictures. The hilt is rhino horn. After I bought some examples of water buffalo horn, I decided to make the new hilt from old grenadilla hardwood.

I cannot share the opinion of some collectors, to leave it as it is.

It is the same for me like a good Oldtimer car. After restoration most Oldtimers are better than ever before.

Another important reason, without a restoration this blade will more and more corrode and in 100 years or so it is just a lost piece of rust and dirt.

I will keep the old handle and pins and store it carefully. So it is no problem, to set the sword back to its current state.


Roland

[Drabant1701]

Originally Posted by Roland_M

Hello Drabant,

thank you for showing the pictures. The hilt is rhino horn. After I bought some examples of water buffalo horn, I decided to make the new hilt from old grenadilla hardwood.

I cannot share the opinion of some collectors, to leave it as it is.

It is the same for me like a good Oldtimer car. After restoration most Oldtimers are better than ever before.

Another important reason, without a restoration this blade will more and more corrode and in 100 years or so it is just a lost piece of rust and dirt.

I will keep the old handle and pins and store it carefully. So it is no problem, to set the sword back to its current state.


Roland

Roland, I think you should restore your sword in a way that feels right for you, there will be as many different opinions on how to resore/not restore antiques as there are collectors.

I used some gun stock oil to darken the handle with good result. Also if you want patina on brass details (such as re-cut pins) you can use ammonia to stain it.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

Here are some pictures from the restoration. As you can see it was in quite bad shape. Im not sure if it was rhino horn or something else. There was a cloth ribbon (?) wraped around it it was probably red long ago I dyed it grey and put it back.

Aaaahhhh You shouldn't dyed it in gray!!
You had the original colour & fabric!!!
The Ottomans should deport you to Gantanamo!!

Kubur

[Drabant1701]

Well is my face red now. Allthough I am pretty sure that the ribbon was not that old, I think it was but there to hold the handle together after it had started to fall apart.

[mariusgmioc]

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.

[Multumesc]

Frumoasa sabie.NOT MUCH TO BE RESTORED.Looks very good.