A Rajput with his sword

[Lew]

Three of mine.

Lew

[Bill M]

A few more

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much guys for the outstanding response!!!
Does it not seem like many of the pommel decorative motifs reflect various suggestions of solar symbolism?
I notice that many of the Rajput associated tulwars have a vestigial extension from the pommel which seems reminiscent of those on the khanda, another sword form key to the Rajputs. The khanda is also key to the Sikhs, often closely associated with Rajputs, both effectively noted for forms of sword worship.

Lew and Bill, I think those Sikh photos, or some very similar, are found in the book "Warrior Saints" by P. Singh. The elaborately decorated turban is difficult to forget.

It seems that the earlier tulwar hilts tend to have smaller pommel discs, the larger forms of 19th c.

I do not have my trusty Pant at hand. Can anyone possibly post the illustrations of the varied tulwar hilt forms suggested by Pant?

All best regards,
Jim

[Bill M]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4071

Unfortunately these eBay auctions have expired. But I remember these pictures selling for over $5000 and another, similar set selling for $2000 plus. I'd like to find the book you mention, Jim.

Here are the other two pictures sold by the same seller

[CourseEight]

I thought I'd add mine, since no one has posted one like it yet. Oddly enough I didn't realize what was being represented until this post. Thanks kai!

Could be a sun on the inner part too. Two for the price of one?

--Radleigh

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I do not have my trusty Pant at hand. Can anyone possibly post the illustrations of the varied tulwar hilt forms suggested by Pant?

All best regards,
Jim

Jim, I would like to find a copy of "Warrior Saints," By Singh, if you have any leads. Google turned up nothing.

I'll look in my Pants and see what I can find.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Bill,
I acquired this book a number of years ago and I believe was acquiring it from the author, Parmjidt Singh, who was actually the co-author. I do not have the book at hand and cannot recall the other author. It is a great book that is primarily lots of great illustrations, those I believe included (at least they do look very familiar). I think trying the British Amazon might help as it was published in London.

Thanks very much everyone for the great responses and sharing more examples. Hopefully we can get some groupings and consistancies going. I am hoping that someone with Pant could post the several variations he has assigned so that we might use these as a benchmark. Although the terminology may or may not be accurately applied, it is the only attempt to standardize Indian tulwars hilts typologically and does serve well in that regard.

I am still unclear on the pommel dish size, and it seems that it has been suggested that larger forms are essentially later, c 19th c. Are we comfortable with that assertion or would the size be more likely to suggest a regional preference?

I am still intrigued by the comment made by Ariel on the other tulwar thread noting that quillons with slightly downward slope on tulwars suggest an earlier example. It seems that that view, while apparantly held by some, may be from a resource we are unable to locate. Can anyone shed any light on this feature?

Best regards,
Jim

[Tabarzin]

Hi Jim,

The authors of the book in question were Parmjit Singh and Amandeep Madra. It was a fascinating book and has now become extremely scarce. I'm in the process of ordering a few copies from a private seller and will post them in the swap forum shortly.

Picture of a tulwar hilt that I recently acquired

[Jim McDougall]

Hello Tabarzin,
Beautifil talwar!!!
Thank you for posting the names of the authors, I cannot even remember how long ago this was published, several years I think.

All best regards,
Jim