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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ireland
Posts: 104
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Hi all
Purchased the attached sword Looking for some advice I normally do not clean up my swords but this one needs a lot if TLC Before I attempt I want to make a few enquiries before I go along a route that it is very hard to recover from Overall description is that the khanda is a bit unusual in that it has a tulwar type handle as opposed to the normal basket and secondly it is very short at 22.5 inches blade length and 27.5 overall length I am thinking about how to clean up the sword I feel to clean it properly I need to remove the fretting re enforcement on the blade or else I will not get the blade cleaned into the groves of the fretting, you should be able to see the pin holding the fretting on the longest side, would ther be a pin on both ends if the fretting and is it a friction fit or is it soldered to the blade Also I will have to remove the blade out of the handlebuti have re seated blades into the resin with no real difficulty. So question iis, is this a rare blade or is the blade of no real value so I have nothing to loose Any idea of age or cleaning advice welcomed Regards and happy st Patricks day Ken |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
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Is there a hole in the blade for the purported "khanda handle" rivet?
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,903
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Maybe I am paranoid, but I suspect a tourist Khanda.
The blade of a typical Khanda is flat and rather flexible, and that's why it needs the side reinforcements. This one appears to have a ridge. I would advise against any attempt to disassemble the blade for cleaning. |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ireland
Posts: 104
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Hi
Thanks for the replies Yes There is a hole in the fretting with a rivet which seems to be holding the fretting to the blade Yes there is a ridge on the blade It seems to me to be a working blade but maybe a tourist item, this I do not know If any more photos would help it is no problem Cheers Ken Last edited by Ken Maddock; 17th March 2016 at 11:18 PM. |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,612
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I believe what Ariel was looking for would be a hole under the langets.
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#6 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,872
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Interesting conundrum.
Obviously the hilt is a reasonably modern tulwar type (relatively) and could be 19th century Rajasthan product. Khanda blades are of course from centuries earlier into medieval period. While there seems to be good age patination on the blade, it is hard to guage from photos, and the bright spots are of concern for metal of such presumed age. The blade itself seems rather 'shapeless' and rudimentary, but I would point out that khanda blades of early times, though often flat, were also often with central ridge ("Hindu Arms & Ritual", Elgood. p.81-82, fig. 8.11). The plates running along the edges were as much for added weight to downward blows as for strength, and the shorter for grasping of blade if required. The usual hilt on these was of course the basket type hilt with the long stem extending to grip as well. In most cases on authentic khanda there were bolsters (trunking) extending down the forte and riveted to the blade (as mentioned by Ariel). The blade edge plates on this seem rudimentary and lack the usual openwork or piercings of most examples. While always trying to be optimistic, this example seems somewhat off center though hard to say from photos, the incongruent use of the tulwar hilt notwithstanding....and may have been intended for ceremonial or votive use. It does not seem close enough stylistically for a souvenier or 'collectible'. |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ireland
Posts: 104
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Thanks
Gentlemen for your information Some answers There is no rivet holding the handle to the blade, it seems to be entirely held in by resin There are no bright spots of metal on the blade, the white bits are white paint, there are more spots of other colours here and there. I purchased at an auction in Ireland so no story with the sword. The blade length is quiet short at just over two foot but has a hefty weight to it. I have handled and owned a fair amount of similar items so I do think it is a fighting item but I have been wrong many times I will report back with a weight when I get to a scales Thanks Ken |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 10
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Hi ken, just been clicking through the forums, was really interested to know how the clean up went ? Any pics ?
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