pulouar afghan not common handle

weapons 27 · 17th November 2012, 01:38 PM

.It measures 92 cm long, 4 mm blade thickness

kronckew · 17th November 2012, 05:51 PM

looks like a batak piso podang...aside from the curved quillions...

Jim McDougall · 17th November 2012, 06:01 PM

An outstanding example with what appears to be a most unusual variant pommel!!! Everything else about this paluouar reads distinctly Afghan, especially the quillon terminals, the floral device in the chowk, and in the mounts the fluted scabbard end. It seems these bulbous pommels occur in a number of cases with Islamic swords, so hopefully we can draw some distinction to possible symbolism or occasion.

A.alnakkas · 17th November 2012, 06:11 PM

Nice pulwar! there was one similar to it in Kuwait. The ball pommel thingy had something in it that jingles.

paolo · 17th November 2012, 06:23 PM

Very nice pulouar You have. As Ward wrote in a previous thread : Those are seeds that rattle around and my understanding is originally all had them in the basket.
Regards
Paolo

A.alnakkas · 17th November 2012, 06:57 PM

I think the blade can be wootz, show us some close ups if possible.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 18th November 2012, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

An outstanding example with what appears to be a most unusual variant pommel!!! Everything else about this paluouar reads distinctly Afghan, especially the quillon terminals, the floral device in the chowk, and in the mounts the fluted scabbard end. It seems these bulbous pommels occur in a number of cases with Islamic swords, so hopefully we can draw some distinction to possible symbolism or occasion.

Salaams Jim ~ Indeed it is an interesting pommel ~ Looking at the sword in the Wallace I was inspired to comment on the style; Please see # 14 at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ACE+COLLECTION

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Gavin Nugent · 18th November 2012, 05:14 PM

A very nice complete example of good form, thanks for sharing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

An outstanding example with what appears to be a most unusual variant pommel!!! Everything else about this paluouar reads distinctly Afghan, especially the quillon terminals, the floral device in the chowk, and in the mounts the fluted scabbard end. It seems these bulbous pommels occur in a number of cases with Islamic swords, so hopefully we can draw some distinction to possible symbolism or occasion.

Here is another within that has the ball pommel but without the flutes.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=tulwar+hilts

Having had one, they offer a very nice feel in the hand with sword play.

Gav

AJ1356 · 18th November 2012, 05:59 PM

Interesting item, the balde to me looks Indian. It just does not have the curveture of a proper Afghan sword. I have seen handles similar to that before. The rest looks afghan, just the balde seems odd, and not local.

Jim McDougall · 18th November 2012, 09:39 PM

Ibrahiim and Gav, thank you guys! Great catches on these comparisons, and both extremely relevant. I think these reflect the potential for associations with the regions most closely connected to the ports and Red Sea trade out of those now Pakistan. The elements of North Indian tulwars, blade and the rather unusual instance of globular pommel, as well as distinct Afghan features amalgamated together present a fasinating anomaly....at least until we find others like it

The globular pommel enclosing seeds or small stones as rattles is an apparant feature of certain Yemeni mounted swords known in Sudan and Darfur in particular late 19th c. used by mounted warriors in threatening foe, as described regarding some broadswords of kaskara type. Possibly this affectation diffused from those regions to trade entrepots connecting through Sind to Afghan routes.

17th November 2012, 01:38 PM	#1
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	pulouar afghan not common handle .It measures 92 cm long, 4 mm blade thickness Attached Images

17th November 2012, 05:51 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	looks like a batak piso podang...aside from the curved quillions... Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 17th November 2012 at 06:06 PM.

17th November 2012, 06:01 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	An outstanding example with what appears to be a most unusual variant pommel!!! Everything else about this paluouar reads distinctly Afghan, especially the quillon terminals, the floral device in the chowk, and in the mounts the fluted scabbard end. It seems these bulbous pommels occur in a number of cases with Islamic swords, so hopefully we can draw some distinction to possible symbolism or occasion.

17th November 2012, 06:11 PM	#4
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Nice pulwar! there was one similar to it in Kuwait. The ball pommel thingy had something in it that jingles.

17th November 2012, 06:23 PM	#5
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Very nice pulouar You have. As Ward wrote in a previous thread : Those are seeds that rattle around and my understanding is originally all had them in the basket. Regards Paolo

17th November 2012, 06:57 PM	#6
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	I think the blade can be wootz, show us some close ups if possible.

18th November 2012, 05:59 PM	#9
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 314	Interesting item, the balde to me looks Indian. It just does not have the curveture of a proper Afghan sword. I have seen handles similar to that before. The rest looks afghan, just the balde seems odd, and not local.

18th November 2012, 09:39 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	Ibrahiim and Gav, thank you guys! Great catches on these comparisons, and both extremely relevant. I think these reflect the potential for associations with the regions most closely connected to the ports and Red Sea trade out of those now Pakistan. The elements of North Indian tulwars, blade and the rather unusual instance of globular pommel, as well as distinct Afghan features amalgamated together present a fasinating anomaly....at least until we find others like it The globular pommel enclosing seeds or small stones as rattles is an apparant feature of certain Yemeni mounted swords known in Sudan and Darfur in particular late 19th c. used by mounted warriors in threatening foe, as described regarding some broadswords of kaskara type. Possibly this affectation diffused from those regions to trade entrepots connecting through Sind to Afghan routes.