Sosun Patta translation please

[Gavin Nugent]

Hi guys and gals,

I have recently bought a stunning Makara Hilted Sosun Patta that I am definately adding to my personal collection. I will post full images when it arrives in a couple of weeks.

Until then, I am hoping someone can help with a translation of the Sanskrit text on blade. From what I can make out, the image provided is something like; ai__Pah_______13?????

Any direction would be fantastic.

regards

Gav

[bhushan_lawate]

Hi,

Looks like an armoury inventory no.

in Devanagari script and reads:

Ri. De: Pa: Num: 18/13 followed by the crecent mark.

I must also say that the "Ri" is a lil doubtful.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bhushan

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by bhushan_lawate

Hi,

Looks like an armoury inventory no.

in Devanagari script and reads:

Ri. De: Pa: Num: 18/13 followed by the crecent mark.

I must also say that the "Ri" is a lil doubtful.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bhushan

Thank you so very much Bhushan!!!

Outstanding!!

I just received email from another gentleman Nandu.

I too would agree it is an armoury number since you both had drawn the same conclusion, Nandu, not knowing swords referred to it as a catalogue number.
He too came up with "ri" though???

I quote;

"It reads as if some catalog number
rI. de: pa: naM: 19 / 130
The 130 could be extended as wiped OM but may be a stretch.
The last naM is for number. It could be 130 or 137 as the the circle for zero is not complete. It is hard to guess what is means.
The text is in Devanagari script so is less likely from South of India unless it is from Tanjavur or places near Bombay."

Very interesting that you both indicate "ri" although you think it is a long shot.
Bhushan, I guess from your reference to the cresent mark may dismiss Nandu's "OM" notation?

Originally Posted by bhushan_lawate

Ri. De: Pa: Num: 18/13 followed by the crecent mark.

What does Ri. De: Pa: mean exactly?

So many questions.

Many thanks

Gav

[Gonzalo G]

Congratulations for your purchase, Gav. I hope to see soon many pictures of your sousson pata. If you don´t mind, I will ask for measures and weight. I dream (vainly) of having a sword of this kind.
Regards

Gonzalo

[bhushan_lawate]

Hi,

I'm not sure what the letters stand for; looks more like an abbreviation or an initial of something.

However i believe that the "Num" indicates that this inventory number must have been "punched" in the last century.

Earlier the Inidan armouries did not use such a convention.

Also "Num" stands for "Number" which is now widely used across India in all languages; this wasnt the case earlier.


Regards,
Bhushan

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks again Bhushan;

How do you think this "stamping" of the code came about?

I'd say the weapon is a lot older than the last hundred years, but how old I honestly have no idea as to an approx time period. I think images when they come to hand will certainly help.

Does anyone have any insight in to the comings and goings of the Sosun Patta in a historical time line as such, when they first appeared as a Sosun Patta and when the were last seen in active service?

I also wonder about the damascus steel seen in the image above, would it be considered birds eye damascus?

Thanks again.

Gav