Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Thuluth calligraphy: How Widely Used on Weapons and Regional Application

Jim McDougall · 18th July 2010, 01:55 AM

Thanks so much Gav! Thats what I was looking for, good examples, and this really presents a quandry with this....what in the world is a Sudanese weapon doing with an obviously Indian hilt????
Last April we discussed another of these anomalies with a brass tulwar hilt and a Sudanese type blade described as a 'kirach', posted by Valjhun.
(attached below)

I have seen these curious tulwar type kaskaras a number of times, but not in any significant number. There was of course distinct connections in trade between India and the Sudan, and Indian forces were with the British at Suakin in 1885, but it would not seem any of them would have had Mahdist blades on thier weapons. There have been firangi blades mounted on a few kaskaras.....but it would seem more likely that these Indian hilted examples would have been the product of innovative armourers in Sudan using Indian hilts.

I am wondering if any weapons attributed to India have thuluth motif.

All the best,
Jim

18th July 2010, 01:55 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Thanks so much Gav! Thats what I was looking for, good examples, and this really presents a quandry with this....what in the world is a Sudanese weapon doing with an obviously Indian hilt???? Last April we discussed another of these anomalies with a brass tulwar hilt and a Sudanese type blade described as a 'kirach', posted by Valjhun. (attached below) I have seen these curious tulwar type kaskaras a number of times, but not in any significant number. There was of course distinct connections in trade between India and the Sudan, and Indian forces were with the British at Suakin in 1885, but it would not seem any of them would have had Mahdist blades on thier weapons. There have been firangi blades mounted on a few kaskaras.....but it would seem more likely that these Indian hilted examples would have been the product of innovative armourers in Sudan using Indian hilts. I am wondering if any weapons attributed to India have thuluth motif. All the best, Jim Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 18th July 2010 at 02:20 AM.