Indian Sword to Share

[drac2k]

Well, I had a good weekend. I won this massive Indian Tulwar that had a heavy iron handle, with gold or brass speckles.It has a massive 34" blade(the last 11" with a false backside edge and it looks like there might be some type of patterning on the blade even though my pictures don't show it.

[Jim McDougall]

Indian tulwars are a tough crowd.......it is really difficult to accurately peg them without significant provenance or detailed decoration which might signify region or entity likely associated. However experience and focused study helps, and though I am by far no authority, I have known those who are and learned a little.

This hilt form is I believe associated with Udaipur, a Rajasthan location and one of a number there where tulwar hilts were produced. It seems this type with elongated square langets and peaked midrif grip is likely end of 18th century probably even earlier.

These are typically associated with Rajputs, but in many circumstances certain clans allied with Mughals. The Talpurs in Sind were Shia and aligned with Persian courts much as Mughals, but these details I cannot speak to with any particular accuracy.

The point is that this example of one of these type tulwars is with heavy fighting blade, which seems more aligned with Northwest frontiers, likely Rajput, while my example (attached) seems more toward more Persian shamshir favor suggesting Rajput as perhaps in Talpur regions .

The gold flaking is likely remnants of koftgari. Note the sunburst type decoration inside disc, the sun is significant in Rajput clan leitmotif. The 'stem' also a Rajput favored feature.

So while primarily a Rajput favored hilt form, it might equally have been used by Sikhs, and frankly I have yet to find any specific detail on proper recognition of any certain weapon to Sikhs. When I once asked a Sikh on this...he wryly said, 'well, if a Sikh used it...it is Sikh' .

[drac2k]

Jim thank you for your very detailed description of my sword! Does your excellent example also have a false edge on the back of the tip end?

[Sajen]

I think that there is a good possibility that the blade is made from wootz!

[drac2k]

Thanks, Sajen : I was hoping that was the case,however I'm too ignorant on that matter to venture a guess.

[Sajen]

Hello David,

Also when you, like I know, are afraid to work on blades I would try a mild etch. The blade looks clean enough that the chance is high that it would show a pattern after it.

Regards,
Detlef

[mariusgmioc]

I was going to say that the blade might be wootz but Detlef was faster.

Sometimes you should be able to see some of the wootz structure even without etching in the finer polished areas.

[drac2k]

I tried to etch once and it frightened me enough not to ever try it again, lol.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by drac2k

Jim thank you for your very detailed description of my sword! Does your excellent example also have a false edge on the back of the tip end?

My pleasure of course, and I am always grateful to see such examples as you place here for comparison and discussion. As noted yours is with a heavy fighting blade, comparable for the kinds of warfare used by Indian horsemen such as Rajputs and Sikhs.

The blade on my example does not have a false edge, and radiuses sharply quite literally to a very sharp point, much in line with blades of Persian shamshirs. The crows foot cartouche on the blade as well as the block forte do suggest the blade was indeed made in India, probably Rajasthan, perhaps Sirohi, but much more research would be required to substantiate.

The discussion on whether the blade on yours is possibly wootz is most interesting, and the patterns seen in the steel do of course have that suggestion, but the fuller seems atypical. Again, I would not presume any expertise whatsoever on wootz or such metallurgy, but it does seem that there was wide variation in forging of blades that might have combined processes of both east and west, especially in the latter 18th century.

Personally, Im with you and hesitant to etch or otherwise process a blade simply to prove whether or not its wootz. It is my view an outstanding example of a true fighting tulwar, and the traces of koftgari suggest it was to a warrior of notable standing.......just as it is.

[drac2k]

Thanks for the informative follow-up.