First Choora

ariel · 4th March 2016, 03:04 AM

Gavin,
Somehow I missed your wootz Choora dated 1901.
Can you direct me to the topic with pics?
Thanks

harrywagner · 4th March 2016, 03:59 AM

Jim, Gavin, - many thanks! 19thc was just a guess on my part. I am terrible at determining an objects age. Fortunately it is not a big deal for me. It took some looking to find one of these that was complete, had only minor condition issues, and was within my budget. I will be happy if it's not a fake!

A couple of questions:
- Is this wootz? It almost looks like patterned steel the way it seems divided into sections. I have only one other knife that I believe has a wootz blade and the steel looks quite different.
- Is the inlay gold or brass? It looks like gold to me but I have been fooled before. Ditto for silver and some steel. I "think" this is steel with a small gold inlay.

Thanks again to you both for the help, and for the info, map, photo, etc. Much appreciated.

Harry

Gavin Nugent · 5th March 2016, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Gavin,
Somehow I missed your wootz Choora dated 1901.
Can you direct me to the topic with pics?
Thanks

You did not miss it Ariel, you entered in to discussion about it.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=48

Gavin

kronckew · 5th March 2016, 07:08 PM

the blade on the OP's choora seems etched with floral patterns like mine rather than pattern welded. i suspect the yellow metal is brass. the blade/brass sawtoothed bolster area & some spine bits appears to have a red supstance painted on, similar to mine, it may be a decorative but not very durable waxy substance.

mine is a bit more decorative with copper and brass spine inlays. some of the grip spacers, like the OP's, are aluminum, a regal metal before the hall process. the razor sharp needle pointed blade has silver, gold, and copper flower decorations. red coral beads on silver wire on the pommel ring for a bit more bling.

very plain wood interior brass covered scabbard i think may have had a fancy cloth or leather cover which is now missing. the hanger portion is aluminum and the two rings are soldered copper.

i suspect the sheet aluminum grip spacers on our knives puts the date to more recent than earlier.

harrywagner · 5th March 2016, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

the blade on the OP's choora seems etched with floral patterns like mine rather than pattern welded. i suspect the yellow metal is brass. the blade/brass sawtoothed bolster area & some spine bits appears to have a red supstance painted on, similar to mine, it may be a decorative but not very durable waxy substance.

mine is a bit more decorative with copper and brass spine inlays. some of the grip spacers are aluminum, a regal metal before the hall process. the razor sharp needle pointed blade has silver, gold, and copper flower decorations. red coral beads on silver wire on the pommel ring for a bit more bling.

very plain wood interior brass covered scabbard i think may have had a fancy cloth or leather cover which is now missing. the hanger portion is aluminum and the two rings are soldered copper.

Thank you very much! The patterns on the blade do seem similar. Too much so to be coincidence (IMO). Absolutely gorgeous knife. Thanks for sharing it.

kronckew · 5th March 2016, 07:34 PM

the brass grip patterns are similar too. quite possibly same maker or his assistants.

better shot of mine:

ariel · 5th March 2016, 07:39 PM

It is quite interesting how massive are its widely spaced ears! Almost yataghan-ish!

Jim McDougall · 5th March 2016, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

It is quite interesting how massive are its widely spaced ears! Almost yataghan-ish!

Now this is velly, velly interesting!!!
That is most definitely yataghan-ish, and a most attractive embellishment.

kronckew · 5th March 2016, 11:52 PM

wow! learn something new every day! never noticed that before, i assumed from seeing side shots that they all were like mine.

ariel · 5th March 2016, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

You did not miss it Ariel, you entered in to discussion about it.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=48

Gavin

Gavin,
The pics did not show the inscriptions and the wootz pattern. Do you still have them in your archives?
Will be much obliged.
Ariel

ariel · 5th March 2016, 11:59 PM

Re. the thread mentioned by Gavin : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showp...99&postcount=48

Royston showed one that was a veritable Dumbo:-)

THAT was what I would call ears!

( I am reposting it here for easier reference. Hope Royston is not offended and this is not against the rules)

Gavin Nugent · 6th March 2016, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Gavin,
The pics did not show the inscriptions and the wootz pattern. Do you still have them in your archives?
Will be much obliged.
Ariel

Ariel, the knife is still in my collections, not sold and archived.
If time permits I'll find and photograph it.

Gavin

Royston · 6th March 2016, 02:48 PM

Ariel, no problem posting my photos.

Here are a few more of "Dumbo" which show off the ears.

The "nail polish" decoration appears on a lot of these. Anyone know what it is ?

Regards
Roy

harrywagner · 6th March 2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royston

The "nail polish" decoration appears on a lot of these. Anyone know what it is ?

I don't know what that is but I have also seen it on at least one Khyber knife.

ariel · 6th March 2016, 07:27 PM

I was also wondering what kind of colored material they used to imitate enameling.

5th March 2016, 07:08 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	the blade on the OP's choora seems etched with floral patterns like mine rather than pattern welded. i suspect the yellow metal is brass. the blade/brass sawtoothed bolster area & some spine bits appears to have a red supstance painted on, similar to mine, it may be a decorative but not very durable waxy substance. mine is a bit more decorative with copper and brass spine inlays. some of the grip spacers, like the OP's, are aluminum, a regal metal before the hall process. the razor sharp needle pointed blade has silver, gold, and copper flower decorations. red coral beads on silver wire on the pommel ring for a bit more bling. very plain wood interior brass covered scabbard i think may have had a fancy cloth or leather cover which is now missing. the hanger portion is aluminum and the two rings are soldered copper. i suspect the sheet aluminum grip spacers on our knives puts the date to more recent than earlier. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 5th March 2016 at 07:29 PM.

5th March 2016, 07:34 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	the brass grip patterns are similar too. quite possibly same maker or his assistants. better shot of mine: Attached Images

5th March 2016, 11:59 PM	#11
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Re. the thread mentioned by Gavin : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showp...99&postcount=48 Royston showed one that was a veritable Dumbo:-) THAT was what I would call ears! ( I am reposting it here for easier reference. Hope Royston is not offended and this is not against the rules) Attached Images

6th March 2016, 02:48 PM	#13
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Ariel, no problem posting my photos. Here are a few more of "Dumbo" which show off the ears. The "nail polish" decoration appears on a lot of these. Anyone know what it is ? Regards Roy Attached Images

4th March 2016, 03:04 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Gavin, Somehow I missed your wootz Choora dated 1901. Can you direct me to the topic with pics? Thanks

4th March 2016, 03:59 AM	#2
harrywagner Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 373	Jim, Gavin, - many thanks! 19thc was just a guess on my part. I am terrible at determining an objects age. Fortunately it is not a big deal for me. It took some looking to find one of these that was complete, had only minor condition issues, and was within my budget. I will be happy if it's not a fake! A couple of questions: - Is this wootz? It almost looks like patterned steel the way it seems divided into sections. I have only one other knife that I believe has a wootz blade and the steel looks quite different. - Is the inlay gold or brass? It looks like gold to me but I have been fooled before. Ditto for silver and some steel. I "think" this is steel with a small gold inlay. Thanks again to you both for the help, and for the info, map, photo, etc. Much appreciated. Harry

5th March 2016, 07:39 PM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	It is quite interesting how massive are its widely spaced ears! Almost yataghan-ish!

5th March 2016, 11:52 PM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	wow! learn something new every day! never noticed that before, i assumed from seeing side shots that they all were like mine.

6th March 2016, 07:27 PM	#15
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I was also wondering what kind of colored material they used to imitate enameling.