Luristan Swords

IMAS 2

Note: The “Lurtistn Sword” paged will be formatted somewhat differently (simpler) than the rest. As I grew older, my eyes deteriorated to a point where I can just barely type stuff in my html editor. I apologize for typos and perfectly spelled but wrong words produced by the erroe correction without me noticing.

My internal notes after buying the seord.

Cleaned thoroughly May 2020. Removed all rust and the epoxy used by earlier owner to cover up small pits etc. (rather well done) Polished by hand the cross-section on the broken blade part. Did Nital etch. Definitely dirty old iron and possibly layered structure but not conclusive. Interesting enough for serious project

Bad picture but hints at “bad” iron inside and laminated construction.

Break with attempt to repair. Hand-polished left part

Details IMAS 2
IMAS 2 was the seconds IMAS I acquired. It has rather perfect heads but rather corroded animals. The blade is actually broken but an attempt at repair was made. I hand-polished the cross-secretion of the lower part of the blade What can be seen is compatible with a layered structure. No X-ray picture was taken. n what follows I keep the format of the IMAS 1 file. What one finds upon close inspection is: The Blade The typical IMAS blade with a mid rip. Its length is identical to IMAS 1 but it is a tad wider at the lower half. The blade may have bee somewhat sharper than that of IMAS 1 but it is hard to tell due to corrosion. There are no “wormholes”. Corrosion Patterns The blade and the animals are more corroded that IMAS 1 but thee are no notable structures. Connection of Blade and Hilt Similar to IMAS 1 but less elaborate. The mid rip width stays constant but the blade shows more taper. There is no “scalloped” band. Where the blade tang enters the hilt (right under the “animals”,) there is some re-enforcement with a circular shape, see the big picture below.
Connection of blade to hilt

The “Animals”

The major animals are heavily corroded and not much can be seen. It is clear, however, that they did nor feature the protrusions or “horns” so prominent in the animals of IMAS 1. This will become definite when we look at the animals sprouting from the heads.

Fixing the Animals to the Hilt

Presumably done by using a crimping plate but in a way much simpler than for IMAS 1

We see two crack lines where thee animal starts to come off due to corrosion. The interpretation is as follows: The animal is not inserted into a fitting depression in the bulk of the hilt but nto a “crimping plate” that was produced on its own and then welded to the bulk of the hilt. The animals then is put on that plate and crimped fixed, possibly followed by firing welding the rim. However. Upon close inspection, it appears that the un-corroded parts above are not just “crimps” but also the legs of the animal. This might indicate that the final carving was done after fixing the raw version of the animal to the heft and then carving the details. This makes some sense since fixing the whole contraption by fire welding including hammering, will damage the sculpture to some extent, especial at the legs on the far outside and right where the crimping takes place. It remains to be seen of this feature can also be found at other IMAS that started to come apart. Well, I had an epiphany about that. Use this link for details and go to the end of the module.

The Bands around the grip
In contrast to IMAS 1 we find a single band not embedded in a crimped socket. That must be somewhat easier to make. The workmanship is perfect. There is no flaw in the fire welding of the band to the body of the grip nor can one see the junction of the band ends.
Heads and the animals sprouting from the back of the heads
The heads plus animal front part are well preserved. The pictures can not do justice to what one sees in a stereo microscope. There is a somewhat less abstract face compared to IMAS 1. The circular structures are definitely the eyes. The protrusions are not pronounced; the rather look look like ears. That is, of course, easier to carve than heads with pronounced protuberances. The front legs ending in paws are prominently rendered.

Structures below the top disc
There aren’t any.
The “Heads”
Well preserved and unique in its way. What on a first glance looks like a long beard is just a chin beard - the face is just very elongated. The mouth is small, just the width of the nose. The face is nevertheless quite possessive. It radiates power and superiority.
IMAS 2 appears to be a somewhat cheaper version of IMAS 1. Less decorations, less complex figures, simple bands, etc. There is no clear indication of a layered structure.

With frame

First Iron Swords - Luristan Type 1 Iron Swords

© H. Föll (Iron, Steel and Swords script)