Indian Persian 18thc tulwar khanda sword?
 

What is this sword?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

My tired old brain cells tell me that a piece like this has been discussed here .

Just don't ask me to find it . ;)

Same sword:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=afghan

I vote Afghan, 19th Century. Tirri has very similar brass work on some stirrups, and the overall hilt shape is like one of those Afghan military sabers.

I think this is North Africa will try to post some scans of the swords from collection in Dresden

I think it's a good quess, Husar. How about Morocco/Berber?

Well, we seem to be reviving the same old discussion with the same arguments and the same ideas ( Afghanistan, North Africa...).
I read the old threads and got nostalgic. So many interesting people left, so much passion gone, so much drivel of "critical thinking" no longer brightens the day...
Yes, the girls used to be prettier, and the steaks juicier, and the the ice cream cooler..

promised pictures

North-Africa / Sahel
 

Hello,

I vote for hybrid takouba-nimcha design. I don't think it's as old as 19th century :shrug:

The brass work brings to mind Touareg work - see attached Oriental-Arms pics.
If the blade didn't look so thick I'd have voted for a modified machete.


Emanuel

I totally agree with North African. The handle looks Moroccan.
I would date it to mid 19th though.
Altogether a rather nice and interesting piece, almost looks like it was made to lop heads or hands off.

indian or Afghan
 

I'm thinking Indian or Afghan. Note the swelled tip slightly forward SE blade. Note the peacock. I think those are flowers. Also the hilt seems to be a fairly sturdy brass construction; probably filled with pitch rather than a wooden hilt covered with sheet brass as often seen on Berbese work. The finger "stall" may be a Turkish feature; in any event it spread throughout their empire. Blade is most like a khanda. Also note the curve of the knucklebow, which is more Indian than African. Cool sword. Any visible solder joints on the hilt?

I also believe North India/Afghanistan regions. Although the blade form is different, I am reminded of the Kopis.

Seems to have been used often....judging by the wear on the handle. The hilt is perfect for 'chopping' strikes or perhaps as a sacrificial short sword (Ram Dao).

Bearing in mind the Kopis spread across Northern India and Persia, it is not unreasonable to think variants may still exist in some areas. Below are some line drawings from "El Armamento Iberico" Fernando Quesada which helps to tie the hilt to the Kopis/Falcata. But could add weight to the arguement that North Africa could be a possible source !!!

The guard looks typical for Indian weapons as does much of the decoration, which seems to dismiss the African connection. Perhaps this was a commisioned piece made in Africa with design elements from India ???

What ever it is I like it.

Regards David

Here's a left-field suggestion, utterly devoid of evidence: Northern Iraq?

The other thread stated that nimchas were known in Iraq; Kurmanji-speaking Northern Iraq is within the Persian cultural realm; the peacock is sacred to the local Yezidis; and they perform ritual ox sacrifice, in (perhaps) a similar manner to the Gurkhas, who use a kopis-like giant kukri for the purpose...

I can't prove any of this though :)

Also, a later thought; the long flat bolster at the base of the blade seems to be a hollow construction (almost ala habiki), whereas Tuareq etc. ones tend to be applied to the flat surfaces of the blade. Very suggestive illustrations there, and also raises the interesting question of how something so useful as the knucklebow has apparently risen, fallen, and returned at least once. Some ancient Latin gladiator weapons also had forms of basket hilts......