A pair of Khandas for Comments

Jim McDougall · 5th December 2007, 07:31 PM

These two firangis are indeed in rather rough condition, and as always I implore restraint! Conservative cleaning with gun oil or equivelant to remove any active rust and stabilize patination. Once cleaned it will be good to note perhaps variations in the manner the blade support is added, and the decorative designs in the elements.
I think Jens assessment of the regions probable for use are quite likely, as blades entering India through the Mahratta regions is well established, and these swords of course diffused from there. As we have discussed, the hilts on these are the traditional 'khanda' hilt, and these blades appear to be European horsemans sword blades of 18th century, probably latter, as many blades of this cross section were used on such cavalry swords well into 19th century. It is difficult to say for sure but obviously first inclination is German.I would hope for any marks of course.

These swords seem to have been favored for fighting from horseback with Mahratta horsemen, and while Rajputs also used the khanda in many cases, I have read that they typically chose to fight dismounted so possibly they may have used shorter blades. Whether such dismounted fighting was distinctly associated with the tulwar rather than khanda I cannot say, however it seemed worthy of note.With the diffusion of weapons in India brought by ever present foreign incursion, and constant geo-tribal conflict it is really hard to assign defined regions to many weapons.

Thank you for showing these Olikara!

All the best,
Jim

5th December 2007, 07:31 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	These two firangis are indeed in rather rough condition, and as always I implore restraint! Conservative cleaning with gun oil or equivelant to remove any active rust and stabilize patination. Once cleaned it will be good to note perhaps variations in the manner the blade support is added, and the decorative designs in the elements. I think Jens assessment of the regions probable for use are quite likely, as blades entering India through the Mahratta regions is well established, and these swords of course diffused from there. As we have discussed, the hilts on these are the traditional 'khanda' hilt, and these blades appear to be European horsemans sword blades of 18th century, probably latter, as many blades of this cross section were used on such cavalry swords well into 19th century. It is difficult to say for sure but obviously first inclination is German.I would hope for any marks of course. These swords seem to have been favored for fighting from horseback with Mahratta horsemen, and while Rajputs also used the khanda in many cases, I have read that they typically chose to fight dismounted so possibly they may have used shorter blades. Whether such dismounted fighting was distinctly associated with the tulwar rather than khanda I cannot say, however it seemed worthy of note.With the diffusion of weapons in India brought by ever present foreign incursion, and constant geo-tribal conflict it is really hard to assign defined regions to many weapons. Thank you for showing these Olikara! All the best, Jim