Indian Arab Influenced Jambiya and Lots of Questions

[TVV]

This jambiya arrived today and I have not even cleaned it yet. The whole thing looks like it is going to be a project, and I have a lot of questions that hopefully you can help me with:
1. I believe this jambiya is Indian, made under heavy Arab influence, potentially for an Arab merchant living on India's West coast. Is this correct?
2. I believe the fittings are brass. Can brass suffer from bronze disease? If you look at the second picture, there appears to be damage to the middle section of the grip, where part of the waist looks like it has corroded.
3. If this is bronze disease, does anyone know a simple treatment? Now keep in mind, I am not a chemist. I read about bronze disease treatment with distilled water, which I am willing to try, as it seems easy and harmless enough.

I think these are my main questions for now. Many thanks to everyone in advance,
Teodor

[kahnjar1]

Hi TVV,
You might search and have a look at post titled "Jambiya for comment help needed" by Atlantia, posted in June last. A similar Indian Jambiya. There is also another post following this one, dealing with the restored item.
Regards Stuart

[ALEX]

Teodor, I agree - it is Indian. If the handle is cast, it could be a casting defect, and not a "disease".

[TVV]

Thank you for the responses!

Stu,
I am aware of the threads on Gene's jambiya. I can only dream of matching his restoration skills. There are some other examples in Elgood and in the Oriental Arms Sold section. However, I am always interested and happy to receive the opinion of this forum's knowledgeable members.

Alex,
The hilt is most certainly cast and I was wondering the same - if it is just a casting flaw rather than subsequent damage. I guess for now I should just monitor it and if it stays stable, then I will know it is a casting defect.

Regards,
Teodor

[Atlantia]

Hi Teodor,

Firstly let me say what a beautiful dagger you've got! Many congratualtions there on such a lucky find.

Bronze/Brass? Often very difficult to distinguish as both are copper alloys. From looking at your dagger, you have a mixture of copper alloys used in the hilt/scabbard. If you look at the end scabbard mount (Chape?) the lion (?) head looks rather gold and 'brassy' and seems to be cast then brazed to the chape which looks to have been made from sheets of a mostly copper metal which has been hammered and pierced.
The obvious differences made me wonder if (like mine) you dagger was once gilded or plated, but I cant see any traces even in the recesses?
The handle as Alex noted looks cast, possibly the fine detail added (chiseled in afterwards).
It would be unusual for bronze-rot/bronze disease to be active enough on a piece of this age to be leaving a hole, so I would think as Aex said that its much more likely a casting defect/blow hole.
If you look very closely at the 'damage' and can see a powdery verdigris coloured resudue over corrosion pitting then I guess it could be something sinister, but I'd doubt it.

Right! Backa gain.
I do like the choice of decoration, foliage and animals! Especially the rather monstrous lionhead!
Here is a rather nice heavy bronze tray of similar artistry:

[TVV]

Thank you Gene,

Nice tray, where the decoration is similar, but of higher workmanship than the one on my jambiya, where it is a little rougher.

I will make a better picture of the area in question tonight. I think I see some residue there, which might be from corrosion, or it might be left over from polishing paste.

Best regards,
Teodor

[TVV]

Here is a close-up of the damaged area (assuming it is damaged and not a casting flow). There is a residue there, as can be clearly seen, and not just there actually, but over the entire hilt. Is it the dreaded "disease", or is it just residue from polishing paste?