A Luristan sword recently acquired by the Metropolitan Museum was found by x-ray examination to have a composite structure. Examination of parts of the blade by spectrography and metallography showed that the metal was mostly wrought iron, though some parts were of mild steel, which was probably formed by surface carbonization in the course of frequent reheating during the forging operation. The ornaments may have been formed by swaging. Eight illustrations on two plates are appended. -- AATA