Indian Tulwar

[Jens Nordlunde]

Personally I don't believe in the theory that the forefinger should be curled around the quillon. Had this been the way the sword should hold, there would have been a ring for protection of the finger. It also seems as if Hendley did not think so, as you can see further down. I am sure Hendley would have mentioned it, in his description of the hilt, had it been common use to curl the forefinger around the quillon.

The text below and the picture are from Damascene Work in India by T. Holbein Hendley. Griggs, London, 1892. Plate III.

Left hilt. From Korti in Punjab. 18th to 19th Century.
Hilt made in false damascening. Flower on top of the disc. This ornamentation is very often used in Rajputana.
Hilt: 19.5 cm.
Disc diameter: 6.8 cm.
Width of quillons: 9.4 cm.
Length of langets: 6.8 cm.

Right hilt. Jodhpure. 18th to 19th Century.
Hilt in true damascening. The ornamentation is often used in Rajputana. The shape and flame like mode of finishing the top of the pommel is common in Jodhpor and Marwa, the west Rajput State.
Hilt: 18 cm.
Disc diameter: 7.5 cm.
Width of quillons: 10 cm.
Length of langets:6.4 cm

Additional text to the two hilts. It will be observed that a very good grip can be obtained with this hilt; the great object in Indian swords is to obtain a firm hold, so that the weapon may be used in making the drawing cut which enables the native swordsman to divide an animal into two pieces, or to serve a handkerchief with equal ease. For this reason alone the hilt is always small.