Please help to id

ariel · 1st June 2006, 12:53 AM

Being paranoid about anything with the "Chinese Connection", I would advice thorough but gentle cleaning with WD-40 and a soft cloth. There is a lot of red (fresh?) rust and the Chinese are masters of artificial aging. The handle is of South Indian style, with a convex base, but I have never seen such a long wavy blade on a katar, almost a Moro Kris. Katar is supposed to be a stabbing weapon; this one is mostly a "slasher". My fear is that cleaning might reveal signs of recent "marriage". Look for a rivet of strange coloring, thermal damage etc.
If I am wrong, congratulations, you got yourself a winner!

Henk · 1st June 2006, 09:24 AM

Herman,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm afraid Ariel is a little bit very right. You bought it in China? I bet they told you it belong to a general of the chinese imperial army.
There is only one rule for chinese weapons: CAVEAT EMPTOR !!!!

IainN · 1st June 2006, 02:24 PM

I have found one example of a similar katar. Apparently with a 23" blade.

But I am concerned by the patina on your piece. As the others have mentioned buying anything from China with a blade is a risky proposition. The nature of the rusting is extremely consistent with other faked pieces I've seen in a variety of styles coming out of China. On the other hand a quick search on ebay didn't turn up an analog so you might be in the clear.

However I am concerned by how closely your piece resembles the one I posted. While I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination on katars, I do try to keep up with Chinese fakes since I have an interest in authentic Chinese pieces, and to my eyes the two are just too similiar.

Hernan · 1st June 2006, 03:10 PM

Many thanks to all of you.

I bought it in China, but not in a market. I bought it from an old man, out of town. It wasn't on sale. I saw it on the wall, when having dinner with him, at his place.

I will clean it with WD40 this weekend and let you know.The fresh rust you can see it is my fault. I had it in a basement and was in contact with some water.

ariel · 1st June 2006, 05:24 PM

There is still some hope!
Wish you luck!

BSMStar · 1st June 2006, 07:08 PM

Maybe its just me...

The blade pictured by IainN is 13 luk...

Hernan's blade is 6 luk (seems like an unlucky number to me).

ariel · 3rd June 2006, 07:48 AM

Hola Hernan,

The best steaks I have ever tasted were in Buenos Aires, 2 orders of magnitude better than Tokyo Kobe beef ( Nihonto croud, sorry, but it is true...). However, my Argentinian friends told me that for REAL beef one had to drive ~4 hours to Montevideo. True or not?

1st June 2006, 12:53 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Being paranoid about anything with the "Chinese Connection", I would advice thorough but gentle cleaning with WD-40 and a soft cloth. There is a lot of red (fresh?) rust and the Chinese are masters of artificial aging. The handle is of South Indian style, with a convex base, but I have never seen such a long wavy blade on a katar, almost a Moro Kris. Katar is supposed to be a stabbing weapon; this one is mostly a "slasher". My fear is that cleaning might reveal signs of recent "marriage". Look for a rivet of strange coloring, thermal damage etc. If I am wrong, congratulations, you got yourself a winner!

1st June 2006, 09:24 AM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Herman, Welcome to the forum. I'm afraid Ariel is a little bit very right. You bought it in China? I bet they told you it belong to a general of the chinese imperial army. There is only one rule for chinese weapons: CAVEAT EMPTOR !!!!

1st June 2006, 02:24 PM	#3
IainN Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 31	I have found one example of a similar katar. Apparently with a 23" blade. But I am concerned by the patina on your piece. As the others have mentioned buying anything from China with a blade is a risky proposition. The nature of the rusting is extremely consistent with other faked pieces I've seen in a variety of styles coming out of China. On the other hand a quick search on ebay didn't turn up an analog so you might be in the clear. However I am concerned by how closely your piece resembles the one I posted. While I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination on katars, I do try to keep up with Chinese fakes since I have an interest in authentic Chinese pieces, and to my eyes the two are just too similiar.

1st June 2006, 03:10 PM	#4
Hernan Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Montevideo Uruguay Posts: 5	Many thanks to all of you. I bought it in China, but not in a market. I bought it from an old man, out of town. It wasn't on sale. I saw it on the wall, when having dinner with him, at his place. I will clean it with WD40 this weekend and let you know.The fresh rust you can see it is my fault. I had it in a basement and was in contact with some water.

1st June 2006, 05:24 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	There is still some hope! Wish you luck!

1st June 2006, 07:08 PM	#6
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	Maybe its just me... The blade pictured by IainN is 13 luk... Hernan's blade is 6 luk (seems like an unlucky number to me).

3rd June 2006, 07:48 AM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Hola Hernan, The best steaks I have ever tasted were in Buenos Aires, 2 orders of magnitude better than Tokyo Kobe beef ( Nihonto croud, sorry, but it is true...). However, my Argentinian friends told me that for REAL beef one had to drive ~4 hours to Montevideo. True or not?