Zig-Zag Ladder Pattern

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pringle

I think we are looking at a level surface in those photos, and there is some optical illusion going on from the way the ladders were done.

Does anyone have a photo to post of a different blade, with hopefully a different provenance, that has 'normal' ladders that look similar to these in some way?

Jeff,
Here's an authentic blade with Shah Abbas/AssadAllah cartouches. The blade has Kirk Narduban/Ladder pattern and when viewed under an angle - the ladders appear "raised" (Sorry, the quality of the picture does not represent it that well). I have not seen many swords with similar effect, and this is to demonstrate that this is not an illusion per se, but a real and natural effect on some Kirk patterned blades !