Kukuri with tulwar handle and Koftgari blade

Kmaddock · 27th January 2021, 12:00 AM

Hi

Just picked this up tonight and I think it is special.

blade 500mm long and handle another 120 mm.

Lovely Koftgari with what looks to me as Arabic writing on the blade (according to lady in Indian corner shop in our town)
in 4 panels there is writing and different in all 4 I think

Not sure if I have it correct way around so please excuse.

Very solid piece and in good overall condition blade 10mm at widest
some corrosion in spots but nothing terrible, just shows its age better.

Scabbard is plain enough and open at the back so knife can be removed

Just a few snaps to see if I can kick off a conversation, if more pics needed just let me know.

Cleaning obviously is a question but I think it looks great as is

So can anyone read what is written on the blade and what sort of age do you think it may be?

Regards
Ken

David R · 27th January 2021, 11:52 AM

It's a Sosun Patta and a nice one. You did well there!

Kmaddock · 28th January 2021, 08:28 AM

Thanks David,

Yes I think it is a nice piece too, I am told it came out of a very old high end collection. The item I swapped for it held no interest or value to me so basically it was free, which is always nice.

Hopefully someone will give some clues as to what is written on the blade
Regards,
Ken

kwiatek · 28th January 2021, 08:02 PM

This is a couplet in Urdu from a Marsiya (a Shi’ite elegiac poem on the martyrs of Karbala) by the famous Urdu poet Mirza Salaamat Ali Dabir

شمشیر بکف دیکھ کے حیدر کے پسر کو
جبریل لرزتے ہیں سمیٹے ہوئے پر کو

“When he saw the son of Hyder armored with sword.
Gabriel shivered pulling together his wings”

Here is a bit about his life

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Salaamat_Ali_Dabeer

This would mean that it is no earlier than 19th-century and might suggest it is from Lucknow or the Awadh region

kronckew · 28th January 2021, 08:33 PM

Cool Sosun Patta. (And NOT a Khukuri - it doesn't have a Cho/Kaudi notch in the edge near the grip.)

Kmaddock · 28th January 2021, 09:11 PM

شمشیر بکف دیکھ کے حیدر کے پسر کو
جبریل لرزتے ہیں سمیٹے ہوئے پر کو

“When he saw the son of Hyder armored with sword.
Gabriel shivered pulling together his wings”

Kwiatek thank you so so much for the translation and the link, I will read properly in while.

I am indebted to you.

I will try and get the title of the thread changed to reflect on what the item was, Kronckew it looks like I had the wrong end of India in my initial identification.

The scabbard is v plain but the blade reveals all.

I don't think I should clean it and leave the old warrior as is

Keep well and looks like a good start to 2021 collecting!

Ken

27th January 2021, 12:00 AM	#1
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	Kukuri with tulwar handle and Koftgari blade Hi Just picked this up tonight and I think it is special. blade 500mm long and handle another 120 mm. Lovely Koftgari with what looks to me as Arabic writing on the blade (according to lady in Indian corner shop in our town) in 4 panels there is writing and different in all 4 I think Not sure if I have it correct way around so please excuse. Very solid piece and in good overall condition blade 10mm at widest some corrosion in spots but nothing terrible, just shows its age better. Scabbard is plain enough and open at the back so knife can be removed Just a few snaps to see if I can kick off a conversation, if more pics needed just let me know. Cleaning obviously is a question but I think it looks great as is So can anyone read what is written on the blade and what sort of age do you think it may be? Regards Ken Attached Images

28th January 2021, 08:02 PM	#4
kwiatek Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 153	This is a couplet in Urdu from a Marsiya (a Shi’ite elegiac poem on the martyrs of Karbala) by the famous Urdu poet Mirza Salaamat Ali Dabir شمشیر بکف دیکھ کے حیدر کے پسر کو جبریل لرزتے ہیں سمیٹے ہوئے پر کو “When he saw the son of Hyder armored with sword. Gabriel shivered pulling together his wings” Here is a bit about his life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Salaamat_Ali_Dabeer This would mean that it is no earlier than 19th-century and might suggest it is from Lucknow or the Awadh region Last edited by kwiatek; 28th January 2021 at 08:28 PM.

27th January 2021, 11:52 AM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	It's a Sosun Patta and a nice one. You did well there!

28th January 2021, 08:28 AM	#3
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	Thanks David, Yes I think it is a nice piece too, I am told it came out of a very old high end collection. The item I swapped for it held no interest or value to me so basically it was free, which is always nice. Hopefully someone will give some clues as to what is written on the blade Regards, Ken

28th January 2021, 08:33 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,187	Cool Sosun Patta. (And NOT a Khukuri - it doesn't have a Cho/Kaudi notch in the edge near the grip.)

28th January 2021, 09:11 PM	#6
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	شمشیر بکف دیکھ کے حیدر کے پسر کو جبریل لرزتے ہیں سمیٹے ہوئے پر کو “When he saw the son of Hyder armored with sword. Gabriel shivered pulling together his wings” Kwiatek thank you so so much for the translation and the link, I will read properly in while. I am indebted to you. I will try and get the title of the thread changed to reflect on what the item was, Kronckew it looks like I had the wrong end of India in my initial identification. The scabbard is v plain but the blade reveals all. I don't think I should clean it and leave the old warrior as is Keep well and looks like a good start to 2021 collecting! Ken