Nice Indian Tulwar, and Help With Its Inscriptions

CharlesS · 31st August 2014, 05:42 PM

I only recently acquired this tulwar and after a good clean up it turned out quite nicely, with a lovely hilt, a very fine and beefy, heavy blade of consistent and quality wootz steel, fine koftgari down the entire spine, and an inscription near the forte. There also appears to be an inscription on the pommel cap in silver koftgari, but it is much less clear.

This is a very large and heavy sword at 40in. overall, with a 34in. blade.

The scabbard is newly made in the traditional style.

I am hoping I can get some assistance with the following:

1.Can anyone identify the hilt's artistic style, and the area of India it is likely from???

2.The inscription on the pommel cap seems more difficult than the inscription on the spine. Can I get any help with a translation???

3.Lastly, can anyone translate the inscription on the blade's spine???

Thanks for any and all assistance!

Battara · 31st August 2014, 11:14 PM

Great wootz and koftgari - nearly pristine!

RSWORD · 1st September 2014, 12:13 PM

Charles,

A very nice sword. Of note to me is not only the quality of the wootz steel but the fact the blade is of the form with a hollow grind and a wide beveled edge. I don't recall too many high quality wootz blades of the form.

Also, the combination of gold and silver to the hilt is interesting.

CharlesS · 1st September 2014, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

A very nice sword. Of note to me is not only the quality of the wootz steel but the fact the blade is of the form with a hollow grind and a wide beveled edge. I don't recall too many high quality wootz blades of the form..

The hollow ground blade and beveled edge initially made me doubt if the blade was wootz. I associate those characteristics with European blades, but there were enough hints in the pictures and coupled with the quality of the hilt and koftgari, I decided to take the chance and make the purchase.

Battara · 1st September 2014, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

The hollow ground blade and beveled edge initially made me doubt if the blade was wootz. I associate those characteristics with European blades, but there were enough hints in the pictures and coupled with the quality of the hilt and koftgari, I decided to take the chance and make the purchase.

Yeah I agree. When I see hollow ground and beveled edges I usually think of European blades too. Unusual to see these features on Indian made wootz blades.

A.alnakkas · 1st September 2014, 04:11 PM

Its a beautiful blade, I wanted to get it. Glad you did.

I dont know why everyone assuming here that hollow ground is a European feature? I have seen and owned Persian and Indian blades with this feature, also European ones too.

Now the curvature, the ricasso under quillons, the tip shape and the thickness of the blade is a clear sign its not European and wootz, atleast thats what I thought when I saw it on Ebay.

31st August 2014, 05:42 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Nice Indian Tulwar, and Help With Its Inscriptions I only recently acquired this tulwar and after a good clean up it turned out quite nicely, with a lovely hilt, a very fine and beefy, heavy blade of consistent and quality wootz steel, fine koftgari down the entire spine, and an inscription near the forte. There also appears to be an inscription on the pommel cap in silver koftgari, but it is much less clear. This is a very large and heavy sword at 40in. overall, with a 34in. blade. The scabbard is newly made in the traditional style. I am hoping I can get some assistance with the following: 1.Can anyone identify the hilt's artistic style, and the area of India it is likely from??? 2.The inscription on the pommel cap seems more difficult than the inscription on the spine. Can I get any help with a translation??? 3.Lastly, can anyone translate the inscription on the blade's spine??? Thanks for any and all assistance! Attached Images

31st August 2014, 11:14 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,257	Great wootz and koftgari - nearly pristine!

1st September 2014, 12:13 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	Charles, A very nice sword. Of note to me is not only the quality of the wootz steel but the fact the blade is of the form with a hollow grind and a wide beveled edge. I don't recall too many high quality wootz blades of the form. Also, the combination of gold and silver to the hilt is interesting.

1st September 2014, 04:11 PM	#6
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Its a beautiful blade, I wanted to get it. Glad you did. I dont know why everyone assuming here that hollow ground is a European feature? I have seen and owned Persian and Indian blades with this feature, also European ones too. Now the curvature, the ricasso under quillons, the tip shape and the thickness of the blade is a clear sign its not European and wootz, atleast thats what I thought when I saw it on Ebay.