Khanda sword

Ken Maddock · 17th March 2016, 09:58 PM

Hi all
Purchased the attached sword
Looking for some advice
I normally do not clean up my swords but this one needs a lot if TLC
Before I attempt I want to make a few enquiries before I go along a route that it is very hard to recover from
Overall description is that the khanda is a bit unusual in that it has a tulwar type handle as opposed to the normal basket and secondly it is very short at 22.5 inches blade length and 27.5 overall length
I am thinking about how to clean up the sword
I feel to clean it properly I need to remove the fretting re enforcement on the blade or else I will not get the blade cleaned into the groves of the fretting, you should be able to see the pin holding the fretting on the longest side, would ther be a pin on both ends if the fretting and is it a friction fit or is it soldered to the blade
Also I will have to remove the blade out of the handlebuti have re seated blades into the resin with no real difficulty.
So question iis, is this a rare blade or is the blade of no real value so I have nothing to loose
Any idea of age or cleaning advice welcomed
Regards and happy st Patricks day
Ken

ariel · 17th March 2016, 10:36 PM

Is there a hole in the blade for the purported "khanda handle" rivet?

mariusgmioc · 17th March 2016, 10:38 PM

Maybe I am paranoid, but I suspect a tourist Khanda.

The blade of a typical Khanda is flat and rather flexible, and that's why it needs the side reinforcements. This one appears to have a ridge.

I would advise against any attempt to disassemble the blade for cleaning.

Ken Maddock · 17th March 2016, 11:03 PM

Hi
Thanks for the replies
Yes
There is a hole in the fretting with a rivet which seems to be holding the fretting to the blade
Yes there is a ridge on the blade
It seems to me to be a working blade but maybe a tourist item, this I do not
know
If any more photos would help it is no problem
Cheers
Ken

TVV · 17th March 2016, 11:23 PM

I believe what Ariel was looking for would be a hole under the langets.

Jim McDougall · 18th March 2016, 02:57 AM

Interesting conundrum.
Obviously the hilt is a reasonably modern tulwar type (relatively) and could be 19th century Rajasthan product. Khanda blades are of course from centuries earlier into medieval period. While there seems to be good age patination on the blade, it is hard to guage from photos, and the bright spots are of concern for metal of such presumed age.

The blade itself seems rather 'shapeless' and rudimentary, but I would point out that khanda blades of early times, though often flat, were also often with central ridge ("Hindu Arms & Ritual", Elgood. p.81-82, fig. 8.11).
The plates running along the edges were as much for added weight to downward blows as for strength, and the shorter for grasping of blade if required.
The usual hilt on these was of course the basket type hilt with the long stem extending to grip as well.

In most cases on authentic khanda there were bolsters (trunking) extending down the forte and riveted to the blade (as mentioned by Ariel).

The blade edge plates on this seem rudimentary and lack the usual openwork or piercings of most examples.

While always trying to be optimistic, this example seems somewhat off center though hard to say from photos, the incongruent use of the tulwar hilt notwithstanding....and may have been intended for ceremonial or votive use. It does not seem close enough stylistically for a souvenier or 'collectible'.

Ken Maddock · 18th March 2016, 08:53 AM

Thanks
Gentlemen for your information
Some answers
There is no rivet holding the handle to the blade, it seems to be entirely held in by resin
There are no bright spots of metal on the blade, the white bits are white paint, there are more spots of other colours here and there.
I purchased at an auction in Ireland so no story with the sword.

The blade length is quiet short at just over two foot but has a hefty weight to it.
I have handled and owned a fair amount of similar items so I do think it is a fighting item but I have been wrong many times
I will report back with a weight when I get to a scales
Thanks
Ken

spiritualwarrior1978 · 5th August 2017, 02:23 AM

Hi ken, just been clicking through the forums, was really interested to know how the clean up went ? Any pics ?

17th March 2016, 09:58 PM	#1
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Khanda sword Hi all Purchased the attached sword Looking for some advice I normally do not clean up my swords but this one needs a lot if TLC Before I attempt I want to make a few enquiries before I go along a route that it is very hard to recover from Overall description is that the khanda is a bit unusual in that it has a tulwar type handle as opposed to the normal basket and secondly it is very short at 22.5 inches blade length and 27.5 overall length I am thinking about how to clean up the sword I feel to clean it properly I need to remove the fretting re enforcement on the blade or else I will not get the blade cleaned into the groves of the fretting, you should be able to see the pin holding the fretting on the longest side, would ther be a pin on both ends if the fretting and is it a friction fit or is it soldered to the blade Also I will have to remove the blade out of the handlebuti have re seated blades into the resin with no real difficulty. So question iis, is this a rare blade or is the blade of no real value so I have nothing to loose Any idea of age or cleaning advice welcomed Regards and happy st Patricks day Ken Attached Images

17th March 2016, 10:38 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	suspcious Maybe I am paranoid, but I suspect a tourist Khanda. The blade of a typical Khanda is flat and rather flexible, and that's why it needs the side reinforcements. This one appears to have a ridge. I would advise against any attempt to disassemble the blade for cleaning.

17th March 2016, 11:03 PM	#4
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Hi Thanks for the replies Yes There is a hole in the fretting with a rivet which seems to be holding the fretting to the blade Yes there is a ridge on the blade It seems to me to be a working blade but maybe a tourist item, this I do not know If any more photos would help it is no problem Cheers Ken Attached Images Last edited by Ken Maddock; 17th March 2016 at 11:18 PM.

17th March 2016, 10:36 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Is there a hole in the blade for the purported "khanda handle" rivet?

17th March 2016, 11:23 PM	#5
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	I believe what Ariel was looking for would be a hole under the langets.

18th March 2016, 02:57 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,942	Interesting conundrum. Obviously the hilt is a reasonably modern tulwar type (relatively) and could be 19th century Rajasthan product. Khanda blades are of course from centuries earlier into medieval period. While there seems to be good age patination on the blade, it is hard to guage from photos, and the bright spots are of concern for metal of such presumed age. The blade itself seems rather 'shapeless' and rudimentary, but I would point out that khanda blades of early times, though often flat, were also often with central ridge ("Hindu Arms & Ritual", Elgood. p.81-82, fig. 8.11). The plates running along the edges were as much for added weight to downward blows as for strength, and the shorter for grasping of blade if required. The usual hilt on these was of course the basket type hilt with the long stem extending to grip as well. In most cases on authentic khanda there were bolsters (trunking) extending down the forte and riveted to the blade (as mentioned by Ariel). The blade edge plates on this seem rudimentary and lack the usual openwork or piercings of most examples. While always trying to be optimistic, this example seems somewhat off center though hard to say from photos, the incongruent use of the tulwar hilt notwithstanding....and may have been intended for ceremonial or votive use. It does not seem close enough stylistically for a souvenier or 'collectible'.

18th March 2016, 08:53 AM	#7
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Thanks Gentlemen for your information Some answers There is no rivet holding the handle to the blade, it seems to be entirely held in by resin There are no bright spots of metal on the blade, the white bits are white paint, there are more spots of other colours here and there. I purchased at an auction in Ireland so no story with the sword. The blade length is quiet short at just over two foot but has a hefty weight to it. I have handled and owned a fair amount of similar items so I do think it is a fighting item but I have been wrong many times I will report back with a weight when I get to a scales Thanks Ken

5th August 2017, 02:23 AM	#8
spiritualwarrior1978 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 10	Hi ken, just been clicking through the forums, was really interested to know how the clean up went ? Any pics ?