Anatomy of a Jambiya The Old vs The New and How to Tell Them Apart

katana · 17th June 2008, 05:53 PM

The blade on the more recent Omani is very strange. There does seem to a central rib....all be it very 'unpronounced', the blade edges are rounded

The 'wootz' pattern is very indistinct but is very fine, faked acid etched wootz is (AFAIK) much coarser and its surface 'ridged'

The blade's mat grey apearance certainly suggests its been 'etched'...perhaps too agressively with a more consentrated acid ?
If this blade is definately not wootz ....has someone deliberately or accidently create the 'look' of 'the possibility of wootz'

In general I was informed that mid to late 20th C Jambiya's had sheet metal blades ie two halves welded/braised together. Is this the case for the mass majority manufactured at that time. As this blade looks 'solid'.

Regards David

17th June 2008, 05:53 PM	#13
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	The blade on the more recent Omani is very strange. There does seem to a central rib....all be it very 'unpronounced', the blade edges are rounded The 'wootz' pattern is very indistinct but is very fine, faked acid etched wootz is (AFAIK) much coarser and its surface 'ridged' The blade's mat grey apearance certainly suggests its been 'etched'...perhaps too agressively with a more consentrated acid ? If this blade is definately not wootz ....has someone deliberately or accidently create the 'look' of 'the possibility of wootz' In general I was informed that mid to late 20th C Jambiya's had sheet metal blades ie two halves welded/braised together. Is this the case for the mass majority manufactured at that time. As this blade looks 'solid'. Regards David Attached Images Last edited by katana; 18th June 2008 at 12:26 PM.