Oh My.
Here omes a Wall O' Text from Prof Babbelmouth!
firstly, we all know you get what you pay for.
in 3rd world countries metal is likely unknonw scrap, possible old British Railroad Track.
in 3rd world countries wages can be as low as $.25 per day
the problems with buying from overseas middleast third world makers
are
innummerable. inumberablke , too many
one has no knowledge of who they are or what they do exceptwhat they post on the web ( it's on the WEB it Must Be True!).
And how many problems do we have with people claiming on the web about what they are not?
My "favorites" are the predators on social media posing as a 15-17 year olds looking for a date that the cops are nabbing via "honey pot" traps.
especially thirdworld... oh yes the nigerian gentleman who just needs your help ...
(did you know that nigerian internet scammers are looked up to as entrepeneurs and heros?
also, doing business with anyone out of pakistan *will* get one on a list ,
a lot of money going thru pakistan and etc are funding terrorists....
last, even if they are legit the materials used and workmanship are iffy.
I have picked up a few items cheaply and did some crude analysis.
whislt the work is usually fairly well done, the welded layers vary dramatically even in the same piece
and the "steel" and layer interfaces are insananely prone to rusting.
for the most part, the vast majority of mid-east knives are ok for lookin' at but not so much for usin'
Good news:
at one time Atlanta Cutlery had a contract with a "manufactory" in india with
boots on the ground to ensure good QA. Every "pattern welded" knife blank I got from
Atlanta Cutlery was a good piece.
here's some of what they have now:
https://www.atlantacutlery.com/search?q=damascus---------
BUT... you wrote "the most important aspect, it has to look and feel 'Period Correct'."
so we need to ask exactly what sort of period correct knife?
rich guy? working bloke?
what time period?
what style?
Jim Bowie style?
San Francisco Dirk?
Plains Belt Knife?
Texas Cowboy Knife?
Dakotas Buffalo Skinner?
that "Juan Padillo Bowie" you posted is authentic, but is it right for your rig, era, and place? Or do you care about that?
ah the possibilities for a long drawn out discussion are endless!
yhs
prof marvel