UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe Forum Artificial Damascus dagger, Army!

Hey Guys,

There is a very interesting story that goes with this dagger, but that I`ll divulge at a later stage!

I`ve not received this dagger as yet, but will be very shortly. But I could`nt wait to post this here, so I requested pics from my mate in the US, who has it ready to ship over to me. So please excuse the pics, they`re the only ones he emailed me.

What do you guys think of this dagger?

Dion

The blade still has quite a bit of cosmeline smeared on it.

Tang looks to be the typical style for a damascus blade, albeit artificial damascus?

Typical billet seams

Looks like its been well buffed/polished over the years with evident loss of detail to the pattern of the etching, pics aren't that good though, piece may look better in hand, you need better expert opinions than mine though

Nolan

Thanks for your answer Nolan. I`m really not sure if that blade has been polished or not, as I dont have it in my possesion, however, I`m hoping to by the end of the week. Will definately take better pics then!

From what I can see though, is that this dagger has a 4th type Eickhorn crossguard. Does this pattern of damascus look like an Eickhorn type?

Anybody else with any other comments
Dion

Hey Guys,

Is there nobody here that can tell me what I`ve got

Dion

Dion, please understand that there are not many collectors around who have (serious!) experiences with damast blades. I am no expert on damast blades wether they are artificial or real damast. But from the very few pics this blade looks to me like it also could be real damast steel. It also looks at least that somebody has messed around with this blade so it might be nearly impossible to dstinguish only from pics what we have here. Also I like to mention that the tang looks pretty pretty new. As the threaded tang for me does look also a little aside, how is the pommel to grip fit???
I would highly recommend to shoot a series of additional, better pics, also from the complete dagger (including the scabbard if there is any) and it�s parts (as it is already disambled do especially shots, several directions, of the crossguard and the hole/part where the blade/tang goes through the crossguard to see if there are traces of recent filing or fitting) to be at least able to judge if it is a pure Eickhorn or a possible parts dagger and to contact our member DAMAST eg. per PM (as he otherwise might not registrate this certain thread) concerning the blade.
Regards,

Hi Wotan,

Thanks for your answer. I will certainly do as you`ve advised, as soon as I have the dagger in hand. Which will hopefully be very soon!

Dion

Really don't have much to say ... I really never liked Artifical damascus blades.. Period or not... The pictures are for sure a etched pattern damascus. Real period etched daggers are rare but it is a personal thing with me and they don't trip my trigger. You will see swords from the 1800s with fake damascus etched blades also.

I dont really know much about damascus, only what I've read, isnt there some kind of process of reviving the pattern on a real damascus blade? I wouldn't imagine that would be possible with etched damast??

Nolan

One of the things that would make me nervous about this blade is the heat bluing (presumably from either welding or grinding) around the juncture of the tang to the blade.

Any acid etching should have eradicated the oxide layer. Tangs might be arguable, but why is the blade blued?? FP

Yes, as DAMAST says above ... definitely etched damascus. You will not restore the pattern.

OK Guys,I`ve just received the dagger and took better pics for your viewing. I really hope that these are sufficient, but if you need any other angles or shots of something specific, please let me know.
FRED: I`ve looked at the tang shoulders closely, and they`re not blued. I think it must`ve been the angle of the pic? I hope my pics are better?

the other side of the tang shoulders

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Dion,

While I really didn't care that much for the blade at the start, I gave it a benefit of a doubt because possibly the quality of the pictures was altering my perception. Your latest images are much better. But I'm afraid that my opinion of the blade has dropped further.

And there is NO doubt in my mind that sometime between the time of the first pictures. And the ones that you took. That someone has been fooling around with the blade to try and make it look better. Also note the area where the red arrow is - what happened with the pattern there??

Best Regards, FP

Obverse side.

Hi FP,

Thanks for your answer
To answer your two questions you placed, I have a very simple answer and one that I cannot answer!
The blade was cleaned up by me after receiving it from the US, as there was quite a bit of cosmoline on it. So I used a little mineral turpentine to get it off the blade.

As to what happened to the pattern at the tang shoulders, well, your guess is as good as mine??
I have no clue, hence the reason for placing this thread, because I have no clue when it comes to artificial or real damascus blades? What I`m trying to say is, is that these are completely new to me, and I dont really know how these were made, so could`nt imagine what one of them should look like at that tang?

Once again, many thanks to those who did answer my thread

Dion