Hunting sword - weird color

Oliver Pinchot · 2nd May 2017, 11:45 PM

Jose is right. It's the way the blade is heat-treated.
It's a desirable characteristic, congratulations.

kronckew · 3rd May 2017, 09:02 AM

yes, the different crystallisation patterns from the softer spine down to the harder edge show as different colouring. the indians were quite good at differential heat treatment. and still are. nepali kami that forge khukuris heat their blades to the right red colour (by experience) then quench just the working part of the edge with a tea kettle full of boiling water. the residual heat in the spine tempers the edge and thats that. using clay along the spine area does much the same, and is a bit easier to accomplish with larger blades and less experience.

Drabant1701 · 3rd May 2017, 10:47 AM

Thank you everyone for your replies. I cataloge all new aditions to my collection and like to have as much information about the items as possible, your help is much appriciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

yes, the different crystallisation patterns from the softer spine down to the harder edge show as different colouring. the indians were quite good at differential heat treatment. and still are. nepali kami that forge khukuris heat their blades to the right red colour (by experience) then quench just the working part of the edge with a tea kettle full of boiling water. the residual heat in the spine tempers the edge and thats that. using clay along the spine area does much the same, and is a bit easier to accomplish with larger blades and less experience.

That is very interesting. Thank you.

kronckew · 4th May 2017, 06:19 AM

just to show the extremes of colourisation due to steel compositions, here is a recent knife. the back is of twisted 'damascus' (pattern welded) and the hard steel cutting edge joins serrated to the middle rod of mild steel. the actual cutting edge is bright because it's been sharpened on a diamond 'stone'.

Miguel · 5th May 2017, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

Thank you everyone for your replies. I cataloge all new aditions to my collection and like to have as much information about the items as possible, your help is much appriciated.

That is very interesting. Thank you.

Anthony Tirri in hi book Islamic Weapons Maghreb to Moghul names this type of sword with hunting scenes as Shikari.
Thank you for sharing.
Miguel

3rd May 2017, 09:02 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	yes, the different crystallisation patterns from the softer spine down to the harder edge show as different colouring. the indians were quite good at differential heat treatment. and still are. nepali kami that forge khukuris heat their blades to the right red colour (by experience) then quench just the working part of the edge with a tea kettle full of boiling water. the residual heat in the spine tempers the edge and thats that. using clay along the spine area does much the same, and is a bit easier to accomplish with larger blades and less experience. Attached Images

4th May 2017, 06:19 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	just to show the extremes of colourisation due to steel compositions, here is a recent knife. the back is of twisted 'damascus' (pattern welded) and the hard steel cutting edge joins serrated to the middle rod of mild steel. the actual cutting edge is bright because it's been sharpened on a diamond 'stone'. Attached Images

2nd May 2017, 11:45 PM	#1
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 468	Jose is right. It's the way the blade is heat-treated. It's a desirable characteristic, congratulations.