Tweezers on a sword scabbard

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by RDGAC

Afternoon Brian, handsome thing you have there! Happened to glance in and just thought I'd contribute re: the leather strap: while reading the late Richard Holmes' excellent Sahib, which (unsurprisingly) is all about the British Raj and its armies. He notes that, during the Mutiny, several British officers and soldiers observed the Indians using straps, or ribbons, to hold their swords in the scabbard, presumably because the scabbard was kept loose. They apparently weren't impressed by the British habit of having tight, metal scabbards that blunted their swords thanks to repeated drawing and sheathing.

He also quotes one bloke who felled an Indian, and remarked that he had opportunity to only because the Indian, a little distracted in the heat of battle, had forgotten about this small strap, and couldn't extract his tulwar from its scabbard, however hard he yanked. Fortunately for the author, he had no such encumbrances.

A very interesting passage.

My opinion in this instance clearly differs though. The fabric wrapped around the hilt is part of the decoration of the scabbard that has come adrift as can be seen in the images of where it once was attached. By default and chance it now sits around the hilt.
I for one have not ever seen this leather strap noted in this passage, perhaps one of the more learned Indian scholars such as Jens can provide visual evidence of this.

The sabre as a whole is a wonderful piece to study and appears to have by design some good age to it.
The tweezers are a ponderous twist too! I like the design with the locking slide.

Thanks for sharing

Gav

[RDGAC]

Originally Posted by freebooter

A very interesting passage.

My opinion in this instance clearly differs though. The fabric wrapped around the hilt is part of the decoration of the scabbard that has come adrift as can be seen in the images of where it once was attached. By default and chance it now sits around the hilt.
I for one have not ever seen this leather strap noted in this passage, perhaps one of the more learned Indian scholars such as Jens can provide visual evidence of this.

The sabre as a whole is a wonderful piece to study and appears to have by design some good age to it.
The tweezers are a ponderous twist too! I like the design with the locking slide.

Thanks for sharing

Gav

D'oh! I really should have paid closer attention - thanks Gav! I'll endeavour to find the reference for that above statement, mind.

- Meredydd (Who always forgets there's no automatic signature here.)

[Iliad]

Gav, thank you for your comment about the strap. I have examined it, and you are quite correct that it is part of the decoration of the scabbard and has come adrift and by chance has encircled the hilt. It was like that when I got it, and assumed (without close examination) that it was a holding strap. I suppose it is a case of seeing what I wanted to see!
The blade is quite thin in comparison to some other Tulwars I have, and is very very sharp.It is very lightweight in the hand. It does seem to have some age to it.
Thanks to all who have commented, I am greatly enlightened, what a great forum this is!
Best
Brian