Tulwar handles on e-bay

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Meanwhile, might I know the source of the quote you cite on the paucity of material on Indian weapons c. 1855?

It is in the beginning of the Introduction of his book: "When in 1855 I began to form a collection of arms in India I found the want of a book to assist me; there was none...".
In India in 1855 there was a lot of opportunities to collect not only collections of arms but a plenty very adequate information about it. I think he was not travelling across India for years ... to put it mildly.