![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
Here for viewing is a tulwar with a serrated blade. The blade is 27 inches long, 32 inches overall. No scabbard. The silver overlayed handle is 100 percent intact. Must have taken a while to sharpen this sword. I wonder how much skin was left on the hands of the person that did the sharpening............Dave.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
|
![]()
Looks brand new.
Was it sold as a reproduction? spiral |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Nashville
Posts: 314
|
![]()
That is what I was thinking, Brand New.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
Spiral: No. I have had this for many years. I just clean everything up so it looks as if it was still in use. When I got it, you couldn't even tell that the handle was silver. The blade was covered in a layer of very fine rust. Lucky that there was no pitting. Everything cleaned up really nice, better than I thought it would...........Dave.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,712
|
![]()
mmm. perhaps I am wrong but, the handle edges look sharp. the dot punch marks still have a raised surround, the silver appears new in both style & quality, so Id guess any rust must have been very light surface rust.
That doesn't necessarily imply great age..... In the world of antique weapons, to me brand new means younger than me, ![]() ![]() But experts in this area like Alex A.J. Artzi, Charles, R.S. & many others could better advise. Spiral |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
Spiral: I will defer to their opinion then if they choose to join in. regardless, even if it's determined to be old or new i still think it has quite a unique look to it..........Dave.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
|
![]() Quote:
It all depends on what one compares the look with ![]() ![]() Apart from being "too clean", the decorative technique and style play a major role in age estimate. The shaping of the blade was done by relatively simple filing/stock removal, creating a more novelty form than a weapon. Granted, the handle is of better than average modern Indian quality and could have some age. However, I agree with Spiral - being 50 years old is not antique, and I also think it is likely less. Hilts like this are cast of steel, and even being coftgaried or overlaid in silver they develop patina quite fast, which make them look older. Last edited by ALEX; 14th February 2014 at 11:08 PM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
Alex: You mentioned that these handles are made of cast steel. Are the tulwar style handles, and i'm talking about the main part, the hand grip, cast in either steel or cast iron, and is this casting process relatively recent or does it go back to antique times..........Dave.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 462
|
![]()
I also think that it is very recent
Here's a old tulwar from my collection |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
|
![]() Quote:
Here are some hilts similar (in shape) to yours. Most of them are at least 19th Century, but a few quite recent. Here's a quiz: which one are they? ![]() Last edited by ALEX; 15th February 2014 at 10:42 AM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
Alex: Just a guess, based on nothing more than gut feeling. Top left handle, bottom right handle.......Dave
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 936
|
![]() Quote:
Top left and top right are new(er) (about/under 50 y.o). Both are made of welded halves. It is easier to cast 2 halves and then join them, opposite to casting a whole piece via "lost wax" technique, due to the hollow inside required to house the tang. They're considerably lighter and thinner than antique hilts. The left one has silver overlay and right one is chiseled. Interestingly, the second top right hilt is also cast of 2 parts and welded, but it is antique. It has nice quality heavy silver overlay, much heavier and quite solid. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,497
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,497
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]()
We shouldn't forget though, that a 100 year old looking "patina" can be put on a blade in about 20 seconds with the right kinds of acids....Dave.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,497
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 7
|
![]()
I am sorry to say but the blade is very recent, a collector I know picked up one of these blades on his travels in India for very cheap and the dealer was well aware that it was a recently made item and made no attempts at trying to pass it off as an antique. I hope you didnt pay too much for it.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 327
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|