Tulwar broadsword??

Andy Davis · 22nd December 2005, 02:54 PM

Hello all
Some of the observant of you may have seen this before but it arrived today and it seems a real oddity.
Rather short at 33" but most usable.
Odd brass open bell shaped pommel, closer to pulwar style but tulwar handle in all other respects. Cant see any joins, in body of handle, so seems a solid casting but light.
The blade???? double edged, broadsword in style with single fuller to both sides. Appears hand forged, as there is uneveness to it and may have originally been a little longer, as it appears to have been sharpend down over time.
Etching, is similar on both sides, moon and stars, which seems to occure on European and some North African swords
Seems to me to be a union of a early European style with Indian, though the kaskara likeness is also obvious. Any ideas?

Cheers
Andy

Jens Nordlunde · 22nd December 2005, 03:25 PM

Hi Andy,

If you trust Pant on this one, the hilt type is either from Sind or Delhi, although I have a feeling, that the slim hilts with the, not very big, saucer shaped discs, with the short not too thick quillons, would be from Sind.
The fluted design on the handle, and the ‘straps’ bound around the handle at the top and at the bottom, most likely is reminiscence from the very old hilts made of wood, where the fluted design represents leather or other material, wound around the hilt, kept in place by the ‘straps’.
The blade looks European to me, but it is hard to say, so as you have the sword, I will take your word for it, if you say it is Indian made, copying an European blade.
Nice tulwar

.

Jens

ariel · 22nd December 2005, 03:54 PM

Where did I read that a slightly downturned quillons are usually seen on older handles? Rawson?

Lew · 22nd December 2005, 04:15 PM

Hi Andy

So your the one who got this beauty I was bidding on it but forgot to up my bid a the last minute

I think it is an older hilt style from the 1600s the blade seems German to me.

Lew

Andy Davis · 22nd December 2005, 04:33 PM

Hi Lew
Ah sorry about that. Most tulwars get spotted on Ebay and get a bit too pricey for what they are at times. This one seems to be one that got away, closed at an odd time or was forgotten by too many. I've done the same thing myself.
On this I just put in a price, that I thought it would go over and settled to the thought that somebody else would get it. I was bl****! surprised when I won. Not the first time thats happend but so very rarely.
While it has obviously been well maintained or restored in its lifetime, under the quillions, there is good honest dirt. Engraving ummm! really not sure, I think its a bit rough to be genuine European but then again early items are much rougher, in some cases.
Cheers for the info
Andy

Jens Nordlunde · 22nd December 2005, 09:33 PM

Hi Andy,

If you are not much interested – then why ask?

Yes Ariel, you are right, these down turned quillons are normally of the older type.

Jens

22nd December 2005, 02:54 PM	#1
Andy Davis Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England, Northumberland Posts: 85	Tulwar broadsword?? Hello all Some of the observant of you may have seen this before but it arrived today and it seems a real oddity. Rather short at 33" but most usable. Odd brass open bell shaped pommel, closer to pulwar style but tulwar handle in all other respects. Cant see any joins, in body of handle, so seems a solid casting but light. The blade???? double edged, broadsword in style with single fuller to both sides. Appears hand forged, as there is uneveness to it and may have originally been a little longer, as it appears to have been sharpend down over time. Etching, is similar on both sides, moon and stars, which seems to occure on European and some North African swords Seems to me to be a union of a early European style with Indian, though the kaskara likeness is also obvious. Any ideas? Cheers Andy Attached Images

22nd December 2005, 03:25 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Andy, If you trust Pant on this one, the hilt type is either from Sind or Delhi, although I have a feeling, that the slim hilts with the, not very big, saucer shaped discs, with the short not too thick quillons, would be from Sind. The fluted design on the handle, and the ‘straps’ bound around the handle at the top and at the bottom, most likely is reminiscence from the very old hilts made of wood, where the fluted design represents leather or other material, wound around the hilt, kept in place by the ‘straps’. The blade looks European to me, but it is hard to say, so as you have the sword, I will take your word for it, if you say it is Indian made, copying an European blade. Nice tulwar. Jens Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 22nd December 2005 at 04:12 PM.

22nd December 2005, 04:33 PM	#5
Andy Davis Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England, Northumberland Posts: 85	It was me Hi Lew Ah sorry about that. Most tulwars get spotted on Ebay and get a bit too pricey for what they are at times. This one seems to be one that got away, closed at an odd time or was forgotten by too many. I've done the same thing myself. On this I just put in a price, that I thought it would go over and settled to the thought that somebody else would get it. I was bl****! surprised when I won. Not the first time thats happend but so very rarely. While it has obviously been well maintained or restored in its lifetime, under the quillions, there is good honest dirt. Engraving ummm! really not sure, I think its a bit rough to be genuine European but then again early items are much rougher, in some cases. Cheers for the info Andy

22nd December 2005, 03:54 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Where did I read that a slightly downturned quillons are usually seen on older handles? Rawson?

22nd December 2005, 04:15 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Andy So your the one who got this beauty I was bidding on it but forgot to up my bid a the last minute I think it is an older hilt style from the 1600s the blade seems German to me. Lew

22nd December 2005, 09:33 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Andy, If you are not much interested – then why ask? Yes Ariel, you are right, these down turned quillons are normally of the older type. Jens