Tulwar inscription question

BBJW · 8th January 2007, 05:51 PM

Can anyone tell me anything about this tulwar and its markings? The blade is 31 inches long. Thanx in advance

bbjw

Jens Nordlunde · 8th January 2007, 06:14 PM

Hi BBJW,

Are these the only markings on the blade? The pictures are not too god I am afraid, could you take some better? Where exactly are these markings? I think I know, but I would like to be sure, and I am not sure I can help you, but let us see with some better pictures, and a close up of the hilt as well. Any markings on the hilt?

BBJW · 8th January 2007, 06:33 PM

P K points to markings. Crescent moon on both sides 10.75 inches from tip.

bbjw

RSWORD · 9th January 2007, 04:36 AM

The markings are probably Indian made in imitation of similar markings sometimes found on European blades. As European blades were treasured in parts of India it is not uncommon to find these faux marks probably meant to improve the marketability of the blade.

Jim McDougall · 9th January 2007, 05:04 AM

I agree with Rsword. The multiple arrangement of symbols in the fullers is often seen on early sword blades from Europe, and it seems that similar arrangements appear on Italian swords. The blades from Portuguese and often Italian swords were often used by native armourers in their firangis (Hindu basket hilts) and as Rsword notes, these numerically arranged symbols were likely intended to assert the quality of the native forged blades in imitation of the markings seen on the foreign blades.
It seems that the circled dot is a solar symbol that is seen on weapons in varied regions, but it seems to me that they often appear on weapon motif in Afghanistan and northern regions of the subcontinent.
The other markings in the arrangement seem like they could be sanskrit devanagari characters or associated symbols, but as yet cannot find anything similar.
Best regards,
Jim

8th January 2007, 05:51 PM	#1
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	Tulwar inscription question Can anyone tell me anything about this tulwar and its markings? The blade is 31 inches long. Thanx in advance bbjw Attached Images

8th January 2007, 06:33 PM	#3
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	More hopefully better P K points to markings. Crescent moon on both sides 10.75 inches from tip. bbjw Attached Images

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8th January 2007, 06:14 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi BBJW, Are these the only markings on the blade? The pictures are not too god I am afraid, could you take some better? Where exactly are these markings? I think I know, but I would like to be sure, and I am not sure I can help you, but let us see with some better pictures, and a close up of the hilt as well. Any markings on the hilt?

9th January 2007, 04:36 AM	#4
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	The markings are probably Indian made in imitation of similar markings sometimes found on European blades. As European blades were treasured in parts of India it is not uncommon to find these faux marks probably meant to improve the marketability of the blade.

9th January 2007, 05:04 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	I agree with Rsword. The multiple arrangement of symbols in the fullers is often seen on early sword blades from Europe, and it seems that similar arrangements appear on Italian swords. The blades from Portuguese and often Italian swords were often used by native armourers in their firangis (Hindu basket hilts) and as Rsword notes, these numerically arranged symbols were likely intended to assert the quality of the native forged blades in imitation of the markings seen on the foreign blades. It seems that the circled dot is a solar symbol that is seen on weapons in varied regions, but it seems to me that they often appear on weapon motif in Afghanistan and northern regions of the subcontinent. The other markings in the arrangement seem like they could be sanskrit devanagari characters or associated symbols, but as yet cannot find anything similar. Best regards, Jim