Nepalese Tulwar-hilted Kukri or ???

[DaveA]

Hello All,

I won this weapon at auction yesterday. It was advertised as a "Sussun Pata Khanda" but I think it is not. The shape nearly matches the Nepalese Kukri with a Tulwar hilt discussed in this thread from 2009. Decoration is nearly completely lacking. I draw your attention to the spine which is T-shaped as one finds on weapons such as the Khyber Salawar. It seems like it could be a hybrid from the India northwestern frontier.

I do not yet have the weapon in hand so there is not much more I can tell you. The overall length is reported as 23 inches. The provenance is listed only as "New York City Estate."

What is your opinion on type(s), origin and possible age?

- Dave A

[RobT]

DaveA,

I have read that this type of hilt is called an Indo/Moslem basket (as opposed to the Hindu basket hilts commonly found on firangi). I think these hilts are rather uncommon. Aside from photos, the example I have (from eBay 2005) is the only one I have ever seen. The seller said that he found the piece in an abandoned house in Georgia which was in an area slated to turned into a man made lake. The blade (very badly pitted) that came with my hilt is only 21.25” (53.975 cm) long and, since it was completely loose in the hilt when I got it, I can’t be totally sure that it is original to the piece. The straight blade has a 4.25” (10.795 cm) false edge and one broad and very shallow fuller which fades out at the foible where the false edge begins and also fades out at the base of the blade. The tang is the same as what would be found on a typical tulwar blade. That the fuller doesn’t run off the blade on either end indicates that it hasn’t been shortened. As it is with both yours and mine, all of the pictures of blades that I have seen with this type of hilt, have been short.

Sincerely,
RobT

[DaveA]

Thanks Rob. I am sure glad that your blade was rescued before the lake flooded it. The Georgia reference will send me to my reference books. I have become very interested in the Caucasus since it represents one of the great geographical points where nations clashed. Interesting weapons often arise in such places.

Do you have any picture you can share?

My hilt resembles a khanda, but the protrusion above is too short to offer a second grip like a khanda.

Dave A

Originally Posted by RobT

DaveA,

I have read that this type of hilt is called an Indo/Moslem basket (as opposed to the Hindu basket hilts commonly found on firangi). I think these hilts are rather uncommon. Aside from photos, the example I have (from eBay 2005) is the only one I have ever seen. The seller said that he found the piece in an abandoned house in Georgia which was in an area slated to turned into a man made lake. The blade (very badly pitted) that came with my hilt is only 21.25” (53.975 cm) long and, since it was completely loose in the hilt when I got it, I can’t be totally sure that it is original to the piece. The straight blade has a 4.25” (10.795 cm) false edge and one broad and very shallow fuller which fades out at the foible where the false edge begins and also fades out at the base of the blade. The tang is the same as what would be found on a typical tulwar blade. That the fuller doesn’t run off the blade on either end indicates that it hasn’t been shortened. As it is with both yours and mine, all of the pictures of blades that I have seen with this type of hilt, have been short.

Sincerely,
RobT

[RobT]

DaveA,

My bad. I should have been more clear. I meant the USA state of Georgia. I will post pictures of mine tomorrow. Your hilt (and mine) does not really resemble a khanda (or a firangi for that matter) because the quillons are totally different and, as you pointed out, the pommel spike is too short to provide a two hand grip. Also, the grip on khanda and firangi hilts typically lack the center bulge found on tulwar hilts. Even when a center bulge is present on khanda and firangi, it is less pronounced than on tulwar hilts. If you compare your hilt to a tulwar hilt, you will see that your hilt is basically a tulwar hilt with a basket on it

Sincerely,
RobT

[RobT]

DaveA,

Here are pictures of mine. As I said in my previous post, the blade is 21.25” (53.975 cm) long with a 4.25” (10.795 cm) false edge. The spine at tang is 3/16” (4.7625 mm) thick with no distal taper until the false edge.

Sincerely,
RobT

PS: The front shot of the hilt does look like a frilled lizard displaying, doesn’t it.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by RobT

PS: The front shot of the hilt does look like a frilled lizard displaying, doesn’t it.

Rob,

Yes. I still have the occasional “Jurassic Park” nightmare!

Thanks for your comments.

Dave

[Kmaddock]

Hi
see my similar example in this post

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26653


Regards
Ken

[DaveA]

Ken,

Just to clarify, you are saying that the weapon I showed is a Sussun Pata , not a khurkuri? Thank you for the link.

Dave A.

Originally Posted by Kmaddock

Hi
see my similar example in this post

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=26653


Regards
Ken

[Rick]

Here is an example of what is basically the same hilt mounted on an extreme Kirach blade.

[RobT]

DaveA,
Kmaddock’s blade is a sossun pata, yours isn’t. AFAIK, it’s a matter of length vs breadth. The sossun pata is more yataghan-like. Your blade is more khukri-like.

Rick,
That is one heck of a beautiful blade…on a rather rare hilt to boot. All the examples I have seen of swords with this type of hilt have had relatively short blades. What is the length of your blade?

Just a thought (based on no evidence whatsoever). A short blade mounted on a hilt with a knuckle bow would make for a good shipboard weapon.

Sincerely,
RobT