Tulwar marking question 4
 

Can anyone please tell me what these markings mean and anything else about this one? Many thanks in advance.

bbjw

Hi Bj,
This is really an unusual tulwar! I have never seen that type of piercing in a tulwar pommel, and the blade on this appears of European backsword form. The double fuller reminds me of a type of Caucasian straight backsword blade that often occurs on Khevsur straight sabres of late 19th c. as does the basic blade profile, but whether this is one of these or actually European is uncertain at this point.
The pierced hilt reminds me of this application sometimes seen on mid-19th c. cavalry sabres on the bowl type guards, particularly Austrian, however I am not suggesting influence, only similarity. As I have noted, this piercing is most unusual, and more research for comparison is needed.

The markings appear to be a native armourers attempt at reproducing the celestial markings from European talismanic blades with moon, stars etc.
The degraded squiggle markings are so vague that the intent is unclear, however similar marks are seen on SEA weapons, and sometimes seen as far to the west as Bengal. Since this tulwar seems far to the northwest, the use of these as markings seems again, unusual.

All best regards,
Jim

BBJW

Here is a marking from a kirash I picked up some years back from Artzi.

Lew

Hello BBJW, on my firangi are very similar marks (and also the blade). Unfortunatly I don't know the meaning :(

Hi Flavio,
Why dont you show us a close up of the hilt from different sides?
It is interesting that the markings are a like.
Jens

Hello Jens here are some other pictures of the hilt :)

Hi Flavio,
Nice solid hilt, not made for showing, but for using. When I look at the decoration on your blade, I get a funny feeling to be looking at a landscape, rather than at a decoration. Some mountains, and where the pass is, the sun is showing - I really don't know why I get this feeling.

Hi Jens, now that you say this, it's true that the decoration seems a landscape! Really nice :) :)