Luristan bronze sword

kronckew · Yesterday, 04:28 AM

Acquired this recently, described as a Luristan bronze sword. It has a grip with a face on the pommel and on the bolster. Fairly thin, prominant raised central rib, not sharp.

I suspect it may not be original, but i'd like confirmation one way or another.

ausjulius · Yesterday, 08:29 AM

id say that's a fake one for sure.

Lee · Yesterday, 02:58 PM

I will flip through a few books I have and see if I find any similar forms - it doesn't bring up any memories. The patina can provide some clues: pale green and "powdery" is suspicious; darker green and crystalline supports hopefulness.

Here is the surface of a 3000 year old Luristan bronze dagger that clearly has seen some cleaning:

kronckew · Yesterday, 04:28 PM

The sword seems to have a mix of colours, the grip is mostly a worn shiny black, especially on the side opposite the faces. Parts of the blade you can see the bronze colour under the start of a shined brownish oxidation, there are ares that look like chrome polish was used to clean it, white residue.

kronckew · Yesterday, 05:17 PM

More photos:

kronckew · Yesterday, 05:19 PM

More More:

Lee · Yesterday, 10:01 PM

The formation of the masks on the hilt is quite different in style and orientation from examples I could find in my limited library. I had thought the very narrow midrib and its termination unlikely, but I found a very similar, though better executed, example on a long dagger in Khorasani's massive tome on Iranian arms. Worrisome that the patina stays the same over areas of the midrib that appear deeply scraped.

Yesterday, 04:28 AM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,257	Luristan bronze sword Acquired this recently, described as a Luristan bronze sword. It has a grip with a face on the pommel and on the bolster. Fairly thin, prominant raised central rib, not sharp. I suspect it may not be original, but i'd like confirmation one way or another. Attached Images

Yesterday, 02:58 PM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 955	I will flip through a few books I have and see if I find any similar forms - it doesn't bring up any memories. The patina can provide some clues: pale green and "powdery" is suspicious; darker green and crystalline supports hopefulness. Here is the surface of a 3000 year old Luristan bronze dagger that clearly has seen some cleaning: Attached Images

Yesterday, 04:28 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,257	The sword seems to have a mix of colours, the grip is mostly a worn shiny black, especially on the side opposite the faces. Parts of the blade you can see the bronze colour under the start of a shined brownish oxidation, there are ares that look like chrome polish was used to clean it, white residue. Attached Images

Yesterday, 05:17 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,257	More photos: Attached Images

Yesterday, 05:19 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,257	More More: Attached Images

Yesterday, 08:29 AM	#2
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 466	id say that's a fake one for sure.

Yesterday, 10:01 PM	#7
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 955	The formation of the masks on the hilt is quite different in style and orientation from examples I could find in my limited library. I had thought the very narrow midrib and its termination unlikely, but I found a very similar, though better executed, example on a long dagger in Khorasani's massive tome on Iranian arms. Worrisome that the patina stays the same over areas of the midrib that appear deeply scraped.