Zig-Zag Ladder Pattern

Jeff Pringle · 4th June 2008, 04:39 PM

It looks like an old blade reworked to me, there is a 'modern' feel to the ladder rungs and how they are placed. This would require completely reforging the blade, so unless they started with a heavy blade the finished item would end up noticeably thin or skinny in at least one dimension.
The modern look to the rungs is due to their edges, a little too consistent and different from the ground pattern, combined with the parallel ‘ghost’ lines showing up occasionally, it just screams “angle grinder” to me – compare them to one of Dr. Figiel’s strongly laddered blades, there is a more ‘organic’ feel to the rungs.

ALEX · 4th June 2008, 05:12 PM

Very interesting observations Jeff

ALEX · 4th June 2008, 05:14 PM

Jeff - very nice comments. THANK YOU! I also can see the difference. What I can not understand is how the blade can be so substantially reworked without harming an entire pattern. I saw great wootz blades being just polished on a machine and losing 50% of their pattern contrast and also acquiring inactive spots, etc. Now, in case of pattern alteration, such as adding the ladders, some "scars" should have been present.

4th June 2008, 04:39 PM	#1
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	It looks like an old blade reworked to me, there is a 'modern' feel to the ladder rungs and how they are placed. This would require completely reforging the blade, so unless they started with a heavy blade the finished item would end up noticeably thin or skinny in at least one dimension. The modern look to the rungs is due to their edges, a little too consistent and different from the ground pattern, combined with the parallel ‘ghost’ lines showing up occasionally, it just screams “angle grinder” to me – compare them to one of Dr. Figiel’s strongly laddered blades, there is a more ‘organic’ feel to the rungs. Attached Images

4th June 2008, 05:12 PM	#2
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Very interesting observations Jeff

4th June 2008, 05:14 PM	#3
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Jeff - very nice comments. THANK YOU! I also can see the difference. What I can not understand is how the blade can be so substantially reworked without harming an entire pattern. I saw great wootz blades being just polished on a machine and losing 50% of their pattern contrast and also acquiring inactive spots, etc. Now, in case of pattern alteration, such as adding the ladders, some "scars" should have been present.