Thank you for the replies.
I should have known, If only I had stopped and thought about it, that a country as vast and culturally diverse as India would have many names for similar objects.
Having said that, I wonder if the name 'Halab' is actually recognised through-out India, to differenciate this Sind/Sikh sword from the Tulwar?
If it Was a recognised name as such, are we then doing a dis-service by over-simplifying things and calling everything with a tulwar type hilt a tulwar!?!?
Please, I'm not trying to confuse, but this to me is interesting!!
Jens,
I think by a russet iron hilt he may just mean the colour russet, (brown)