Very Early Scottish broadsword blade in Indian PATA

[Triarii]

Karmically, I was at the Arms and Armour Society summer school at the Wallace Collection the other week and one of the handling objects was one of Tippu's swords. The inscription has been added and possibly the Tiger, as it was noted that its quite European in style.
Davinder Toor, who presented on Indian and Persian Arms and Armour (and also on the Katar), said that Pata blades were often flexible, though what that means for the one being discussed I don't know. Anyway, photos of Tippu's sword (top one, above the shamshirs).

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Triarii

Karmically, I was at the Arms and Armour Society summer school at the Wallace Collection the other week and one of the handling objects was one of Tippu's swords. The inscription has been added and possibly the Tiger, as it was noted that its quite European in style.
Davinder Toor, who presented on Indian and Persian Arms and Armour (and also on the Katar), said that Pata blades were often flexible, though what that means for the one being discussed I don't know. Anyway, photos of Tippu's sword (top one, above the shamshirs).

This is an absolutely wonderful entry!!! Thank you so much! The subject of Tipu is fascinating, and my friend Nidhi Olikara has studied this topic for many years and is well published on the subject. As he is situated in Mysore, he has some great resources.

I personally think this example is with a very old and venerated blade, now mounted in more of a votive fashion, so the flexibility not to account. You are right though, flexibility in the pata blade would be key, as these were slashing weapons, not for the thrust. In most accounts of Indian swordsmanship, the thrust was not even thought of.'

Thank you so much for answering here! It means a lot.

Best regards
Jim

[Jim McDougall]

As noted, the Scots were well present in India, and the basket hilt form present in many circumstances, particularly militarily of course. One instance of profound influence has always come to mind was to the north in the latter 19th century.

In research years ago on one of the paramilitary levees in Afghan regions, The Khyber Rifles, I was surprised with some of the photos I received from sources.
In Afghanistan the British military influence was notable, especially from the Scottish regiments, and Afghan forces adopted elements of their uniforms and weaponry. There are images of the Highland kilt and other uniform items.

This is one of the commanding officers of the Khyber Rifles in latter 19th c. proudly with a Scottish basket hilt. It seems I have seen at least one other such image but cannot recall if same officer or if another, possibly there was some convention of Afghan native officers wearing basket hilts.

While obviously far north and much later than the case with the Indian pata originally posted, the point is recognizing the presence of Scots in India from 18th century, and of course the swords they had, notably the basket hilt.

German blades were very highly favored in India, and particularly in areas to the south from Deccan to Mysore, where the pata was well established. While the basket hilt form itself was not particularly adopted in India except the Afghan cases of the next century it is highly probable this old, clearly German blade, came FROM a basket hilt and was used in this pata as noted earlier.

[urbanspaceman]

It is hard to tell for sure if this is a curved blade but it is certainly a basket hilt.

[urbanspaceman]

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

It is hard to tell for sure if this is a curved blade but it is certainly a basket hilt.
Attachment 246707

Good note Keith, on the sidearm on this figure appears to be an Afghan paluaor.
I did not note on the commanders basket hilt, it does have a curved blade, which if in Scottish parlance, would be termed 'turcael'.