A Massive, Heavy Indian "Cleaver" Sword

Jim McDougall · 18th July 2015, 03:36 AM

Interesting stuff you come up with lately Charles!

Clearly the Indo-Persian (tulwar) hilt was widely dispersed throughout India, and is found mounted on various blades, including 'kora' blades in north Bengal, and on sabres from Afghanistan through the Northwest Frontiers to the Deccan.
It is difficult to assign a region to swords with these hits regionally with any particular certainty, but we can plausibly rationalize these kinds of combinations .

Looking at this heavy blade, and its general shape, I would suggest at this point possible Moplah connections in western coastal India, Malabar.
The familiar 'choppers' have this type profile. I would point out that the Mahratta's were notably 'naval', and it would not be surprising for this to be such a weapon.

Heavy bladed 'falchions' are often taken for 'executioner' weapons, and it does seem somewhere in the tons of notes of mine there are images of similar weapons.

Looking forward to input on this, I know others can remember better some of these over the years.

ariel · 18th July 2015, 04:31 AM

So it were you who outbid me???

Well, at least this tulwar found himself an educated and devoted owner. Enjoy each other!

I think Jim is onto something, and this something is "Arab connection"

This blade has clear similarity with South Arabian nimcha, with its widened distal part. I think it is a naval sword, likely from Southern India.

kahnjar1 · 18th July 2015, 08:32 AM

I know absolutely nothing about this sword, but as an observation, the fact that it has a sturdy pommel ring, would suggest that some sort of lanyard could have been attached to avoid loss of the weapon.........so could it have been used on horseback?, or, if as has been suggested, it is for naval usage, to avoid loss overboard?
Stu

18th July 2015, 03:36 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,219	Interesting stuff you come up with lately Charles! Clearly the Indo-Persian (tulwar) hilt was widely dispersed throughout India, and is found mounted on various blades, including 'kora' blades in north Bengal, and on sabres from Afghanistan through the Northwest Frontiers to the Deccan. It is difficult to assign a region to swords with these hits regionally with any particular certainty, but we can plausibly rationalize these kinds of combinations . Looking at this heavy blade, and its general shape, I would suggest at this point possible Moplah connections in western coastal India, Malabar. The familiar 'choppers' have this type profile. I would point out that the Mahratta's were notably 'naval', and it would not be surprising for this to be such a weapon. Heavy bladed 'falchions' are often taken for 'executioner' weapons, and it does seem somewhere in the tons of notes of mine there are images of similar weapons. Looking forward to input on this, I know others can remember better some of these over the years.

18th July 2015, 04:31 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	So it were you who outbid me??? Well, at least this tulwar found himself an educated and devoted owner. Enjoy each other! I think Jim is onto something, and this something is "Arab connection" This blade has clear similarity with South Arabian nimcha, with its widened distal part. I think it is a naval sword, likely from Southern India.

18th July 2015, 08:32 AM	#3
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,787	I know absolutely nothing about this sword, but as an observation, the fact that it has a sturdy pommel ring, would suggest that some sort of lanyard could have been attached to avoid loss of the weapon.........so could it have been used on horseback?, or, if as has been suggested, it is for naval usage, to avoid loss overboard? Stu