Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 10th June 2005, 04:01 AM

In examining this sword, I think most of the emphasis on my observations have been toward the very interesting hilt, which appears distinctly fashioned for chopping cuts. My mention of the dusack referred to the similarity to the woodcut illustrations described by Tom, but of course did not intend to suggest any lineage to these, as mentioned, 'training weapons'. What seemed most apparant to me is the gestalt of the hilt, which is strikingly similar to the example of kopis that appears as referenced. Again, these hilts seem designed for pronounced chopping cuts, which of course were the distinct dynamic of these unique blades.
I agree with Tom in noting the form of the bolster, characteristic of the Khyber/Afghan/Uzbek weapons, and suggesting as noted, northwest regions of India/Khyber.
While it is tempting to note the brasswork as suggesting North African possibilities, it would seem that this sword is from the regions discussed.
As I have noted previously, the 'sickle marks' along the back of the blade have been seen on blades of certain other unique native Indian blades. I actually have never seen these on North African blades, and would be very interested to know of examples if anyone has seen them.

The reference to the 'salawar yataghan' linked was noting the distinct similarity to the positioning of the grip and guard to the blade in the 'chopping' form that is apparant in the hilt of the sword we are discussing.The hilt on the salawar yataghan is actually an Anglo-Afghan form which was mounted on heavy straight sabres used by the Afghan army in the 1880's through 1890's....many of them as late as the campaigns of 1919.
This example is somewhat unique in being mounted with the typical Khyber blade, interestingly in somewhat the same fashion as our discussion sword.
The knuckleguard on these, while the hilt was departing from traditional hilt forms, still carries the curled back form seen on many tulwars.
The same feature occurs on this knuckleguard.

I think the reference to Arabian influence in this hilt with similarities to certain forms of sa'if is sound, while agree the 'nimcha' has less to do with what we are discussing. Such influence was profound in the Mughal sphere, and seems well placed in the regions of Northwest India where this sword might have originated.

10th June 2005, 04:01 AM	#35
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	In examining this sword, I think most of the emphasis on my observations have been toward the very interesting hilt, which appears distinctly fashioned for chopping cuts. My mention of the dusack referred to the similarity to the woodcut illustrations described by Tom, but of course did not intend to suggest any lineage to these, as mentioned, 'training weapons'. What seemed most apparant to me is the gestalt of the hilt, which is strikingly similar to the example of kopis that appears as referenced. Again, these hilts seem designed for pronounced chopping cuts, which of course were the distinct dynamic of these unique blades. I agree with Tom in noting the form of the bolster, characteristic of the Khyber/Afghan/Uzbek weapons, and suggesting as noted, northwest regions of India/Khyber. While it is tempting to note the brasswork as suggesting North African possibilities, it would seem that this sword is from the regions discussed. As I have noted previously, the 'sickle marks' along the back of the blade have been seen on blades of certain other unique native Indian blades. I actually have never seen these on North African blades, and would be very interested to know of examples if anyone has seen them. The reference to the 'salawar yataghan' linked was noting the distinct similarity to the positioning of the grip and guard to the blade in the 'chopping' form that is apparant in the hilt of the sword we are discussing.The hilt on the salawar yataghan is actually an Anglo-Afghan form which was mounted on heavy straight sabres used by the Afghan army in the 1880's through 1890's....many of them as late as the campaigns of 1919. This example is somewhat unique in being mounted with the typical Khyber blade, interestingly in somewhat the same fashion as our discussion sword. The knuckleguard on these, while the hilt was departing from traditional hilt forms, still carries the curled back form seen on many tulwars. The same feature occurs on this knuckleguard. I think the reference to Arabian influence in this hilt with similarities to certain forms of sa'if is sound, while agree the 'nimcha' has less to do with what we are discussing. Such influence was profound in the Mughal sphere, and seems well placed in the regions of Northwest India where this sword might have originated.