Really Good kindjals - where are they ?

[Lee]

The blade on the one I posted above is just over 36 cm / 14 inches in length and just under 4.5 cm / 1.75 inches wide at the base. The fullers are so deep in this 4.5 mm thick blade that in just a few foci, light will pass through a few pinprick sized holes in the blade where fuller meets fuller. The smith obviously had to remove a lot of metal and did so with great precision. The hilt, though plain, may well be made of rhino horn and is very well shaped and fitted. The iron rivets are nicely faceted and over a cm high. I have never had a scabbard, so unfortunately, this exceedingly sharp dagger is sheathed in newspaper bound with masking tape. I found it at an arms fair several decades ago; I was told that it was part of a collection of pattern-welded items that was being dispersed.

[Rivkin]

Sorry, it's most likely not a rhino horn - I've never seen those used by caucasians. What really puzzles me is that this piece is unsigned - Dagestanians usually do sign their pieces.

[FenrisWolf]

Originally Posted by Lee

I have never had a scabbard, so unfortunately, this exceedingly sharp dagger is sheathed in newspaper bound with masking tape.

Might I suggest that you replace the newspaper with some archival acid-free paper, available at any art supply store? Newspaper is by its nature high in acid content and will over time damage that blade badly, no matter how well oiled it is. Given the high quality of the blade, it might also be worthwhile to look into replacing the scabbard with a modern reproduction. It might not be original, but it'd still be better than paper and masking tape!