Khanda (Firangi) Sword

[Pertinax]

For quite a long time in my collection there is a Khanda (Firangi) sword, probably Marathi, "Shivaji's sword".

The blade is Indian, straight, with two thin fullers on both sides of the blade.

Such swords were primarily insignia, denoting the power and high position of the owner, they were also presented by rulers to their commanders or courtiers in recognition of their merits or other encouragement. These were sword-stick, which were held in the hand in a vertical position by the handle, with the tip of the scabbard resting on the floor.

Overall length: 1200 mm, blade width: 35 mm, blade thickness: 6 mm, weight: 960 g.

[Jim McDougall]

This is a beautiful example of these distinctive Indian swords, which is simple, unpretentious, and quite likely from northern regions in India, Rajput.
These long, straight blade swords actually descended from the old Indian sword, termed in Sanskrit 'khanda' (-loosely, cut, divide etc) which is often regarded as a collective term for 'sword' in Sanskrit.

The term 'firangi' is another loose and collective term taken to refer to 'foreign' and refers to the European or other trade blades often found in these swords hilted in the hilts known as 'Hindu basket hilts'.

The earliest examples of 'khanda' are swords depicted in the narrative frieze decorating the portico of the Rani Gumpta cave on Udayagiri hill in Orissa from 2nd century CE. (P.Rawson, "The Indian Sword", 1968.p.6). These early Indian swords suggest the origins of the 'khanda' with that, and of course the form diffused widely in India with a simpler hilt form than the more familiar 'Hindu basket hilt likely from European contact in 17th c.(p.28, Rawson, op.cit.).
The khanda form into the Maratha dominions in Deccan; the Rajputs and Sikhs in the north and the Nairs in the south according to Rawson.

The Marathas organized in a national state in the second half 17th c. with Shivaji as the leader. This of course likely was the origin of the swords association to him.

The khanda is highly revered from both traditional and religious aspects and as noted venerated prestige virtually it seems in all these factions of Indian culture.

The old Indian versions of Khanda were broadswords, as described :
"..tradition has hallowed the two edged khanda of Mewar, investing it with a mysterious origin. It is supposed to be the enchanted weapon fabricated by Viswascarma with which to be girded the founder of the race and led him forth to the conquest of Chittor".
"Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan", J.Tod, 1898,p.55

With the development of the expanded elements of the 'basket hilt' by the late 17th c. through the 18th long straight single edged cavalry blades began to appear on these, and they were most certainly fighting swords. The long stem on the hilts already extant had been intended for two hand use of the sword, though later less prominent vestigial examples are known.

The 'firangi' blades seem to have been mostly European, with German and Italian blades most common, and these seem almost invariably backsword (single edged). While more typically German, we have seen Italian examples which likely came from 18th c. schiavona.

Indian armorers were fully skilled in producing their examples of these blades, thus technically overriding the 'firangi' term, but that is of course irrelevant. In my opinion, 'khanda' remains the most workable term for these aside from the familiar nit picking

This is my single example from years ago when I was studying Indian swords here, and of course likely end of 18th into 19th. Blade is unmarked (unable to see beneath forte reinforce) but surely European.

It is tempting to consider these as being from period of the Anglo-Maratha wars 1775-1819 (the MAHRATTA is old spelling of Maratha). It is really hard to say Maratha or Rajput on these without far more expertise in decoration and other nuances, but these swords are the most compelling of Indian forms, far less ubiquitous than tulwars of course.

[Pertinax]

Thanks Jim McDougall!

You have a beautiful sword, probably a fighting one.

My sword has a thin and flexible blade, it is impossible to use in combat, so I consider it an insignia.

You might be interested in some great research on this topic:

https://www.kunstkamera.ru/files/lib...1-301-9_12.pdf

https://journal.kunstkamera.ru/files...kin_kk_2_8.pdf

Best regards,
Yuri

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Yuri,
I think you may be right on yours, and the blade is likely Rajasthani made.
As noted these khanda were highly regarded and revered by both Rajputs and Sikhs. This example may well have been held in such a ceremonial status in some manner, but I am not familiar with such particulars.

Best regards
Jim

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you Yuri,
I think you may be right on yours, and the blade is likely Rajasthani made.
As noted these khanda were highly regarded and revered by both Rajputs and Sikhs. This example may well have been held in such a ceremonial status in some manner, but I am not familiar with such particulars.

Best regards
Jim

Hi Jim!

The two excellent studies I linked to above are devoted to this topic.

I have these texts in Word format, if anyone is interested, write me an email in a private message, I will be happy to share the information.

A. Yu. Kurochkin

THE SWORD-STAFF: "THE SWORD OF SHIVAJI" FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE MAE RAS

ABSTRACT. The article describes an item from the collection of the MAE RAS (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences), which before being donated to the museum was used as a prop in the folk theater of Maharashtra and represented an attribute of the national hero of the Marathas - the sword of Shivaji. The author explains why a sword of this particular shape was chosen as a prop and attribute of Shivaji and how it relates to real historical examples. Information about famous swords that belonged to the historical Shivaji and items currently revered as such is also analyzed. The author cites historical sources, images, European testimonies, and provides terms used to designate swords of this type. It is concluded that the sword belongs to the well-known group of Indian staff swords, which had a mainly ceremonial purpose and were primarily insignia denoting the power and high position of the owner.

Portrait of Shivaji 1680-1687.

Best regards,
Yuri

[Sajen]

It's interesting to note that the khanda sword was adopted in the North of Sumatra and there it was called peudeung, just won by a German auction such a sword, mislabeled as "Khanda from India".

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Sajen

It's interesting to note that the khanda sword was adopted in the North of Sumatra and there it was called peudeung, just won by a German auction such a sword, mislabeled as "Khanda from India".

There's one in the World Museum here in Leiden that is similarly misidentified. I attempted to correct this years ago but it remains in the little Mughal arms exhibit to this day.