I need some more informations over Khanda swords

Jim McDougall · 4th December 2007, 11:36 PM

Hi Stefan,
Artzi is indeed very often the source for many of the outstanding weapons that are thankfully posted here for discussion, and yours is yet another!!!
The terminology on Indian weapons is a topic that will probably always be open for debate. It seems that the hilt form of your sword is of course regarded as that of the 'khanda'. While this has been established as an early form of sword in India, the term itself may be generally applied as simply a descriptive term for sword much as 'tulwar' or sa'if'.
When the khanda is mounted with a foreign blade it changes reference to being called a 'firangi' (loosely= foreign). The distinctly spatulated tip of the blade on yours brings the definition (according to Pant) to 'pattisa' from my understanding.

As with most weapons, there is a great deal of folklore associated with them as well as considerable religious and often talismanic applications, probably best described in Robert Elgood's "Hindu Arms and Armour". This book is the product of many years of intense scholarly research that presents the most comprehensive perspective on these Indian weapons I have seen.

Regarding the hole in the center of the blade, I am inclined to agree with the likelihood that it may have more to do with mounting and displaying the weapon than the suggested folkloric meanings. I once had a beautiful British M1788 heavy cavalry basket hilt with a huge blade, and in the exact same location on the blade was a hole drilled exactly as shown, and could only have been meant to hold a nail. Despite the intriguing suggestion, I have not really encountered any means of tallying 'kills' on sword blades any more than gunfighters really notched thier guns in the "wild west"!

All best regards,
Jim

4th December 2007, 11:36 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Hi Stefan, Artzi is indeed very often the source for many of the outstanding weapons that are thankfully posted here for discussion, and yours is yet another!!! The terminology on Indian weapons is a topic that will probably always be open for debate. It seems that the hilt form of your sword is of course regarded as that of the 'khanda'. While this has been established as an early form of sword in India, the term itself may be generally applied as simply a descriptive term for sword much as 'tulwar' or sa'if'. When the khanda is mounted with a foreign blade it changes reference to being called a 'firangi' (loosely= foreign). The distinctly spatulated tip of the blade on yours brings the definition (according to Pant) to 'pattisa' from my understanding. As with most weapons, there is a great deal of folklore associated with them as well as considerable religious and often talismanic applications, probably best described in Robert Elgood's "Hindu Arms and Armour". This book is the product of many years of intense scholarly research that presents the most comprehensive perspective on these Indian weapons I have seen. Regarding the hole in the center of the blade, I am inclined to agree with the likelihood that it may have more to do with mounting and displaying the weapon than the suggested folkloric meanings. I once had a beautiful British M1788 heavy cavalry basket hilt with a huge blade, and in the exact same location on the blade was a hole drilled exactly as shown, and could only have been meant to hold a nail. Despite the intriguing suggestion, I have not really encountered any means of tallying 'kills' on sword blades any more than gunfighters really notched thier guns in the "wild west"! All best regards, Jim