The author reviews and summarizes the pertinent literature dealing with the historical, technical and artistic aspects of Oriental and Mechanical Damascus steel. Persian and Indian sword blades from 1600-1800, previously unpublished, Damascus gun barrels, and two blades of royal provenance are all featured. Mechanically contrived patterns such as the "Kirk-Narbudan" and more complex variants such as the "Rose" or combinations of the "Ladder and Rose" are also described and illustrated. Included is a chapter on pattern welded steels which includes a rare group of seventeenth and eighteenth century swords which exemplify the technical skills of Moghul and Indian blacksmiths.
Book is imperfect, hence the discounted price. There is some discoloration on some of the interior pages.
