Question on tulwar blade construction

BluErf · 12th January 2016, 10:34 AM

Hello to everyone and a happy 2016!

I'm posting on behalf of a friend who bought this tulwar recently. The tulwar blade looks like it could either be wootz or sham, but the tip is made from a different steel and shows signs of being heat tempered.

Is this a known construction method for tulwars, and is there a reason for making the tulwar in this manner? Also, is this construction method native to a specific geographic region? Thanks.

ariel · 12th January 2016, 11:00 AM

The riveted handle with brass washer suggests NW India or ( more likely) Afghanistan.
The blade seems to be wootz.
The reinforced point is for stabbing : rather unusual on tulwars. I have shown a similar one ( also potentially NW India or Afghani) in the topic "Indian short sabers"

ALEX · 12th January 2016, 12:21 PM

Unlike reinforced point on Ariel's tulwar, this one is not designed as such. The blade was broken and the tip was welded as in scarf-welding technique. it is good quality repair and likely an old one.

ariel · 12th January 2016, 01:21 PM

Alex,
You are absolutely right re. re-welding. The shadows in Pics 1 and 5 fooled me: they gave an impression of a swollen tip. Need new glasses....

ALEX · 12th January 2016, 02:15 PM

knew about the glasses, Ariel

Pukka Bundook · 12th January 2016, 02:45 PM

Yes, as Alex says, though I feel it may be a more modern mend.

The pin with washer looks fairly new to me, as it shows no sign of wear,
and the edges of the washer still look very square. Also the peened over pin looks half -peened, not like it would be done originally.
Not looking for fault, but this is as it appears.

Richard.

estcrh · 18th January 2016, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluErf

The tulwar blade looks like it could either be wootz or sham, but the tip is made from a different steel and shows signs of being heat tempered.

Is this a known construction method for tulwars, and is there a reason for making the tulwar in this manner? Also, is this construction method native to a specific geographic region? Thanks.

It appears that this sword may have been repaired, either in the past or more recently, better pictures would help. There is also the chance that this sword had a hardened tip attached purposely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

I have seen many katar with scarf welded homogeneous steel tips that were heat treated. In those cases it added strength to this area. Haven't seen this on tulwar which makes this one likely a repair.

Just because this technique is not known to have been used on tulwars does not rule it out completely either. This is an interesting example whatever the purpose of the weld was.

12th January 2016, 10:34 AM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Question on tulwar blade construction Hello to everyone and a happy 2016! I'm posting on behalf of a friend who bought this tulwar recently. The tulwar blade looks like it could either be wootz or sham, but the tip is made from a different steel and shows signs of being heat tempered. Is this a known construction method for tulwars, and is there a reason for making the tulwar in this manner? Also, is this construction method native to a specific geographic region? Thanks. Attached Images

12th January 2016, 11:00 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The riveted handle with brass washer suggests NW India or ( more likely) Afghanistan. The blade seems to be wootz. The reinforced point is for stabbing : rather unusual on tulwars. I have shown a similar one ( also potentially NW India or Afghani) in the topic "Indian short sabers"

12th January 2016, 12:21 PM	#3
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Unlike reinforced point on Ariel's tulwar, this one is not designed as such. The blade was broken and the tip was welded as in scarf-welding technique. it is good quality repair and likely an old one.

12th January 2016, 01:21 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Alex, You are absolutely right re. re-welding. The shadows in Pics 1 and 5 fooled me: they gave an impression of a swollen tip. Need new glasses....

12th January 2016, 02:15 PM	#5
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	knew about the glasses, Ariel

12th January 2016, 02:45 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Yes, as Alex says, though I feel it may be a more modern mend. The pin with washer looks fairly new to me, as it shows no sign of wear, and the edges of the washer still look very square. Also the peened over pin looks half -peened, not like it would be done originally. Not looking for fault, but this is as it appears. Richard.