Tulwar of the 4th Punjab Infantry with shortened blade.

Chris Tubman · 10th October 2025, 07:28 PM

Here’s a Tulwar that I recently acquired which may be of interest.
It has a shortened blade of about 20" length which appears to be very similar to a Prussian M1811 “Blücher” sabre that I also own or possibly a British 1796 Light Cavalry sabre?
When put together the curve of the blades matches exactly and the fullers are identical.
There are no makers marks on the blade but it shows a very short ricasso near the spine.
The blade tapers from about 10mm at the hilt to around 2mm at the point which has been ground to a hatchet form.
The hilt although very pitted still shows silver inlay in a six petal flowers and foliage design.
There’s a lot of open space around the short tang but what could be lead (?) holding the blade into the quillon block.
The quillon are stamped with the number 4 and P.I which would suggest the sword was used by the 4th Punjab Infantry who were formed in Lahore in 1849.
Any further thoughts in this sword are most welcome.

Ian · 13th October 2025, 11:49 PM

Hi Chris, makes me wonder why such a nice old hilt ended up on a cut down and reshaped blade. Perhaps they started out together when the blade was intact and the blade got broken. Or maybe it's a later ensemble. Some of the silver work is raised above the background iron on the hilt. That looks recent to me and not in a traditional form.

Will M · Yesterday, 05:36 PM

Ian I would expect the silver to be somewhat raised due to the corrosion and metal loss on the hilt. One never knows how long the hilt and blade have been attached.

Ian · Today, 09:09 AM

Chris, all the silver work I have seen on tulwars has been pressed into very fine engraved criss-cross lines (Khoftgari work). None of it was raised in the fashion shown on the hilt of your sword. Silver is soft and will wear easily (much more readily than iron). Areas with barely visible silver work is the norm for older pieces that have been used (as opposed to stuck away somewhere out of harms way). Other areas of the hilt show more typical wear and loss of silver.

Jim McDougall · Today, 02:53 PM

Ian and Will, thank you guys for detailing criteria on your observations!
This thoughtful effort is how we learn about the weapons we discuss and the character of the elements, decoration and processes that are essential in the forensics process that help us understand them.

Just making some declaration or laconic blurb toward a weapon in discussion, as too often apparent in todays devolving communication is less than helpful, so actual imparting of knowledge and experience is pure treasure.

Just sayin

10th October 2025, 07:28 PM	#1
Chris Tubman Member Join Date: Oct 2025 Posts: 4	Tulwar of the 4th Punjab Infantry with shortened blade. Here’s a Tulwar that I recently acquired which may be of interest. It has a shortened blade of about 20" length which appears to be very similar to a Prussian M1811 “Blücher” sabre that I also own or possibly a British 1796 Light Cavalry sabre? When put together the curve of the blades matches exactly and the fullers are identical. There are no makers marks on the blade but it shows a very short ricasso near the spine. The blade tapers from about 10mm at the hilt to around 2mm at the point which has been ground to a hatchet form. The hilt although very pitted still shows silver inlay in a six petal flowers and foliage design. There’s a lot of open space around the short tang but what could be lead (?) holding the blade into the quillon block. The quillon are stamped with the number 4 and P.I which would suggest the sword was used by the 4th Punjab Infantry who were formed in Lahore in 1849. Any further thoughts in this sword are most welcome. Attached Images Last edited by Chris Tubman; 11th October 2025 at 09:39 AM. Reason: Add an image.

13th October 2025, 11:49 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,501	Hi Chris, makes me wonder why such a nice old hilt ended up on a cut down and reshaped blade. Perhaps they started out together when the blade was intact and the blade got broken. Or maybe it's a later ensemble. Some of the silver work is raised above the background iron on the hilt. That looks recent to me and not in a traditional form.

Yesterday, 05:36 PM	#3
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 397	Ian I would expect the silver to be somewhat raised due to the corrosion and metal loss on the hilt. One never knows how long the hilt and blade have been attached.

Today, 09:09 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,501	Chris, all the silver work I have seen on tulwars has been pressed into very fine engraved criss-cross lines (Khoftgari work). None of it was raised in the fashion shown on the hilt of your sword. Silver is soft and will wear easily (much more readily than iron). Areas with barely visible silver work is the norm for older pieces that have been used (as opposed to stuck away somewhere out of harms way). Other areas of the hilt show more typical wear and loss of silver.

Today, 02:53 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,627	Ian and Will, thank you guys for detailing criteria on your observations! This thoughtful effort is how we learn about the weapons we discuss and the character of the elements, decoration and processes that are essential in the forensics process that help us understand them. Just making some declaration or laconic blurb toward a weapon in discussion, as too often apparent in todays devolving communication is less than helpful, so actual imparting of knowledge and experience is pure treasure. Just sayin