Ok, I seem to be alone with my opinion on the Sossun Pata, as I don’t believe it is from Deccan or Hyderabad, and nor do I believe it was Tipu’s pillow sword – yes, I know that no one claimed that it is.
The marks at the side of the head are not Bubris they are Cintamani markings. These Cintamani marks were used a lot in Ottoman Empire and in Persia for decoration, and also in countries under Persian influence – the Mughal Empire.
I believe it to be Rajasthani. The fact that the hilt is made of brass does not mean it is from Deccan, as brass hilts were also made in Rajasthan and even in Afghanistan. It is true that they more often used brass hilts in Deccan, but that is not any proof.
The floral decoration on the hilt is to me more Rajasthani than it is Deccani, and the fact that the pommel and the ends of the quillons are Makara heads, points more to Rajasthan than to Deccan. The Makara, a fable amphibian animal, was used far more to the north than in Deccan, where they mostly used the fable ‘tiger/lion’ Wyali/Yali/Yarli.
To this comes that the blade is from the north with its reinforced tip.
It is difficult to judge the age from a picture, but my guess would be 18th to early 19th century.
Jens
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