Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 24th May 2023, 05:52 PM   #1
francantolin
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 878
Default Badass indian kora

Hello dear members,
I just received this small indian kora sword,

55cm long but really large and heavy blade with razor sharp edge.
The blade seems not too old but is well made with a central rib .
A fighting model ?? Sadly no scabbard
Attached Images
      
francantolin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th May 2023, 06:50 PM   #2
Maj-Biffy Snodgrass
Member
 
Maj-Biffy Snodgrass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 66
Default well done

Very nice blade
Maj-Biffy Snodgrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th May 2023, 07:56 PM   #3
francantolin
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 878
Default

Shiny blade,
Do you think that a sanding/etching could reveal a pattern ??
francantolin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th May 2023, 08:13 PM   #4
Turkoman.khan
Member
 
Turkoman.khan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 106
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by francantolin View Post
Shiny blade,
Do you think that a sanding/etching could reveal a pattern ??
I doubt there will be a pattern on the blade...
Turkoman.khan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th May 2023, 07:10 PM   #5
francantolin
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 878
Default

Thank you Maj-Biffy and Turkman Khan for your comment,
I'll try to etch it when I'll have a little time,
Not a lot of chance but just for see...

Kind regards
francantolin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th May 2023, 10:07 PM   #6
Jim McDougall
Arms Historian
 
Jim McDougall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,955
Default

These type 'kora' are typically ritual weapons for sacrificing of doves if I recall. This one has the eye (for Kali) and the type of motif seen on these forms, as well as traces of red paint remaining in the pommel disc. They are said to be Bengali, which seems understandable given the proximity to Nepal, also the prevalent Rajput influence in these regions. The hilt style on this example resembles tulwar hilts from Rajasthan.

As far as I know these were not combat arms, as the Gurkha kora was, and would not have had wootz blades. I would be interested to know if any such ritual weapons had blades of wootz as such affectation would normally be to weapons of station or parade/ceremonial/court.
Attached Images
   
Jim McDougall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th May 2023, 10:40 PM   #7
Maj-Biffy Snodgrass
Member
 
Maj-Biffy Snodgrass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 66
Default Kora

My 2 pence worth is, Nepalese and likely not wootz, it is very dui chira Kukri like to my eye, might be wrong though just a guess. . Snody
Maj-Biffy Snodgrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th May 2023, 08:10 PM   #8
Turkoman.khan
Member
 
Turkoman.khan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 106
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by francantolin View Post
Hello dear members,
I just received this small indian kora sword,

55cm long but really large and heavy blade with razor sharp edge.
The blade seems not too old but is well made with a central rib .
A fighting model ?? Sadly no scabbard
It is very difficult to say whether this or that arms was "fighting model". I think you can definitely say this only with phenomenal abilities - to feel the history of an item by touching it)
The unequivocal fact is that kora sword was not only a ritual, but also a combat arms. There are many illustrations to prove this fact.
Turkoman.khan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.