In very rusty condition ...but is this a Khanda??

Jens Nordlunde · 27th February 2007, 02:48 PM

Hi Katana,

What you have, is a nice old classic khanda, which I would place in Rajasthan – congratulations

. The hilt is nice, and as Spiral writes a bit unusual, the change of the spike to a flower but can be seen now and again, but please tell us about the blade, is it flexible? I think it would be, but I am not sure. How much you will clean it depends on your temperament, some remove the worse rust and make sure it wont rust any further, while others, like me, go a bit further, to make it show more of the original weapon, although I would never remove all the rust to get a shiny khanda. Let us know how the work proceeds.

katana · 27th February 2007, 04:07 PM

Thanks again Spiral, Richard and Jens,

I will certainly take my time, I have got most of the 'dry, loose' rust off and gently used fine 'wet and dry' (with oil) on the blade. I have rubbed olive oil (no baby oil at present, good suggestion Spiral, being paraffin (kerosene?) based....never thought of it before) and then wrapped the sword in 'cling-film...to soak for a while.

Jens the blade is flexible and the blade's edge is in remarkably good condition and still quite sharp....although a little 'rough'....when felt with the finger-tips.

Has anyone any idea of a date for this Khanda.....would the blade costruction help to ID the 'time period'?

Will try and post close-ups, light permitting , soon

katana · 27th February 2007, 04:46 PM

Not very good pics, but at least it shows the blade condition and some of the remaining Koftgari....it has mainly survived on the rectangular detail on the 'shoulder' of the guard (both sides of the detail and on both sides of hilt).
Does the diagonal pattern have any significance?

Flavio · 27th February 2007, 04:53 PM

Hello David, I'm sure that after a lot of work you will be very happy of this piece!! Good job!!!

katana · 2nd March 2007, 03:37 PM

First of all... thankyou for your words of encouragement

Here are some more pics of the blade after hours of more cleaning.....Now I have a problem ....it certainly looks as if it is wootz

Now the headache is.... do I clean further (and if so to what degree) and etch

I believe this sword to have some considerable age....under the active rust is a hard, very dark layer of ...what I think is...stabilized rust which is/was relatively thick. The other nice thing ..is the feeling that the sword actually 'appreciates' the amount of cleaning attention it is getting and to a degree the whole process has been slighty 'spiritual'.....I really get a sense that this Khanda has many stories to tell. ( I know a few of you are probably thinking 'this guy needs a straight jacket and medication') ...but this sword has 'something'

There also seems to be more Koftgari than I first thought...but is still patchy, mainly the remains of an edging border around the contours of the hilt. Soaking with oil has helped to loosen some of the rust...but the layer of the harder, stabilized rust is not ...and this is what is covering the remains of some of the Koftgari.
Any suggestions, comments etc gratefully received, thankyou

Jens Nordlunde · 2nd March 2007, 04:10 PM

Katana, you have done a good job so far, and I can only tell you what I would do, not what you should do – as the decision is entirely up to you. If I thought the blade was watered, and I think you may be right that it is a possibility, I would go on cleaning and then etch, if I felt that not too much steel would be removed. I would prefer not to advise on the koft gari only from a description, but maybe someone else can.

Ian · 2nd March 2007, 04:35 PM

Hi katana:

Cleaning heavily rusted steel is always a challenge. One method that I have found very useful at times is mild abrasive blasting using an agent that is not likely to remove the underlying metal. This excludes potent abrasive materials like sand. It is possible to use peanut shells and other organic matter, or a proporietary product such as "Black Beauty." I put masking tape over delicate areas such as koftgari to prevent them being hit by the abrasive as it may dislodge delicate koftgari work or loose inlaid pieces -- hand rubbing is safer.

Of course, you need an abrasive blasting cabinet with good ventilation. I have a friend who lets me use his cabinet -- lucky me -- but if you also have access to such a cabinet it can save hours of hard work and creates a matt finish on the metal after rust removal. I always polish by hand afterwards and use no power tools.

Good luck with that project. I suspect you will be pleasantly surprised.

27th February 2007, 02:48 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Katana, What you have, is a nice old classic khanda, which I would place in Rajasthan – congratulations. The hilt is nice, and as Spiral writes a bit unusual, the change of the spike to a flower but can be seen now and again, but please tell us about the blade, is it flexible? I think it would be, but I am not sure. How much you will clean it depends on your temperament, some remove the worse rust and make sure it wont rust any further, while others, like me, go a bit further, to make it show more of the original weapon, although I would never remove all the rust to get a shiny khanda. Let us know how the work proceeds.

27th February 2007, 04:46 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Not very good pics, but at least it shows the blade condition and some of the remaining Koftgari....it has mainly survived on the rectangular detail on the 'shoulder' of the guard (both sides of the detail and on both sides of hilt). Does the diagonal pattern have any significance? Attached Images

2nd March 2007, 03:37 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	First of all... thankyou for your words of encouragement Here are some more pics of the blade after hours of more cleaning.....Now I have a problem ....it certainly looks as if it is wootz Now the headache is.... do I clean further (and if so to what degree) and etch I believe this sword to have some considerable age....under the active rust is a hard, very dark layer of ...what I think is...stabilized rust which is/was relatively thick. The other nice thing ..is the feeling that the sword actually 'appreciates' the amount of cleaning attention it is getting and to a degree the whole process has been slighty 'spiritual'.....I really get a sense that this Khanda has many stories to tell. ( I know a few of you are probably thinking 'this guy needs a straight jacket and medication') ...but this sword has 'something' There also seems to be more Koftgari than I first thought...but is still patchy, mainly the remains of an edging border around the contours of the hilt. Soaking with oil has helped to loosen some of the rust...but the layer of the harder, stabilized rust is not ...and this is what is covering the remains of some of the Koftgari. Any suggestions, comments etc gratefully received, thankyou Attached Images

2nd March 2007, 04:35 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Nice old warrior! Hi katana: Cleaning heavily rusted steel is always a challenge. One method that I have found very useful at times is mild abrasive blasting using an agent that is not likely to remove the underlying metal. This excludes potent abrasive materials like sand. It is possible to use peanut shells and other organic matter, or a proporietary product such as "Black Beauty." I put masking tape over delicate areas such as koftgari to prevent them being hit by the abrasive as it may dislodge delicate koftgari work or loose inlaid pieces -- hand rubbing is safer. Of course, you need an abrasive blasting cabinet with good ventilation. I have a friend who lets me use his cabinet -- lucky me -- but if you also have access to such a cabinet it can save hours of hard work and creates a matt finish on the metal after rust removal. I always polish by hand afterwards and use no power tools. Good luck with that project. I suspect you will be pleasantly surprised.

27th February 2007, 04:07 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thanks again Spiral, Richard and Jens, I will certainly take my time, I have got most of the 'dry, loose' rust off and gently used fine 'wet and dry' (with oil) on the blade. I have rubbed olive oil (no baby oil at present, good suggestion Spiral, being paraffin (kerosene?) based....never thought of it before) and then wrapped the sword in 'cling-film...to soak for a while. Jens the blade is flexible and the blade's edge is in remarkably good condition and still quite sharp....although a little 'rough'....when felt with the finger-tips. Has anyone any idea of a date for this Khanda.....would the blade costruction help to ID the 'time period'? Will try and post close-ups, light permitting , soon

27th February 2007, 04:53 PM	#4
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello David, I'm sure that after a lot of work you will be very happy of this piece!! Good job!!!

2nd March 2007, 04:10 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Katana, you have done a good job so far, and I can only tell you what I would do, not what you should do – as the decision is entirely up to you. If I thought the blade was watered, and I think you may be right that it is a possibility, I would go on cleaning and then etch, if I felt that not too much steel would be removed. I would prefer not to advise on the koft gari only from a description, but maybe someone else can.