A newly aquired Kirach

Stan S. · 12th January 2012, 02:39 AM

Rick,

I am pretty sure your sword is a kirach too but designed for combat against havier armored opponents. To me it looks almost as if it served a similar purpose to a tegha - serious armor crushing, plus piercing capabilities. I wonder how heavy it is?

You are correct, most kirach I see are similar to mine. However, many have a different kind of blade, where the tip is shaped almost like an up-side-down kissake of a samurai sword. This results in the edge on the convex (cutting) side of the blade to be almost flat. I don't know if this indicates a different use, geographical region, or something else.

I'll clean the sword over the weekend and will try to get a few more pictures including some close-ups. At a glance the blade does not appear to be pattern welded. Its just a plain, although good quality steel, but perhaps I will learn otherwise as I clean this baby.

Rick · 12th January 2012, 04:09 AM

Hi Stan,
That sword weighs in at a tad over two pounds, 32.035 oz .
I'm not so sure about its chopping qualities; but it is a superb blade for the thrust despite (or maybe because of ?) its downward curve .
I have tried it out on ye trusty pool noodle .

I'd be interested in the weight of your example; these swords come along so rarely; more information is always helpful .

dralin23 · 14th January 2012, 10:53 PM

hi rick and stan,
here are 2 kirach swords from my collection.
the first one is an phantastic piece of art. it is an short sword with an light blade. the blade is only 680mm (26,75in) the lenght over all is 88cm(34,5in)
the wight is only 802 gr.
original was the the hilt silverplated.
the most important feature is, these phantastic ironwork at the blade. these pattern was cutting in to the blade.
both swords are from the same size. i think these swors was made not for for caverlery man than for the use from the back from an horse are these swords to short.

dralin23 · 14th January 2012, 11:20 PM

here my second kirach sword,
the blade from these kirach was made from an nice laminated steel.
the size is exactly the same like the first one but the blade is more heavy like the other one. kirach swords are not so often to see like khanda ore sossunpatta swords soit is intresting to see such swords from other collectors!
thanks!!
stefan
.

Jens Nordlunde · 15th January 2012, 04:07 PM

Nice to see some Indian weapons for a change

.
I also have a kirach, which I got not so long ago. They are not seen very often.
The hand guard is a makara's head, with a snake coming out of its mouth.

Jens Nordlunde · 15th January 2012, 04:12 PM

For some reason or other the last picture could not be downloaded in the last post, but here it is - I hope.
The picture was too big

.

Rick · 15th January 2012, 04:14 PM

That is a lovely hilt, Jens !

I would be most interested in learning about combat methods with this sword form .

Rick · 15th January 2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dralin23

hi rick and stan,
here are 2 kirach swords from my collection.
the first one is an phantastic piece of art. it is an short sword with an light blade. the blade is only 680mm (26,75in) the lenght over all is 88cm(34,5in)
the wight is only 802 gr.
original was the the hilt silverplated.
the most important feature is, these phantastic ironwork at the blade. these pattern was cutting in to the blade.
both swords are from the same size. i think these swors was made not for for caverlery man than for the use from the back from an horse are these swords to short.

This one (first) is very interesting; do you suppose the blade was reshaped ?
The spine seems straight rather than having a gentle downward curve as the other examples do .

Jens Nordlunde · 15th January 2012, 04:57 PM

Hi Rick,

Long time no hear, but that is my fault – I know. I have been busy writing on some articles, now that the Bundi katar article has been published, I research the age of the katar, and this is almost finished. Then comes the research for a half written article about a tulwar I have, which I can pin point, not only to a certain state, but also to a state within a state. All very interesting, but also very time consuming.

The kirach hilt is a lovely one, and as old as the blade. The makara and the snake are unusual, as is the form of the disc. At the inside of the disc you can see a flower.
Sorry for the two pictures - I must be getting old

.

Jens

dralin23 · 15th January 2012, 05:22 PM

hi rick,
your question is intresting and i´m not sure if these sword was reshaped or not. my first intention is that these sword is original in the shape, but it is also truely possible that these sword was an khanda. but i think it was made as an kirach, than the tip is deeper than the beginn from the cutting edge before the hilt and if someone have reshaped these swordblade than must be the blade was very wide at the tip.

Rick · 15th January 2012, 05:43 PM

Hi Jens, here's to getting older; it beats the alternative .

I'm glad to hear you are putting your knowledge to paper .
Could you hazard a guess as to the area that hilt came from ?

Stefan, the chiseling on that blade is marvelous .

Jens Nordlunde · 15th January 2012, 06:21 PM

Hi Rick,
NNW 17th century.
As to the way of fighting with these swords, I don't think the size was the most important, as the tulwar is not any longer and the tulwar was used for horse fighting.
I don't know, but to me it seems, as if the forward bend tip is excellent for a horseman's attack - for someone who sits higher that the one whom he wants to attack.

kronckew · 15th January 2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

...
I'm not so sure about its chopping qualities; but it is a superb blade for the thrust despite (or maybe because of ?) its downward curve .
...

the blade reminds me of the ginunting (not mine),

a superb chopper used by the Philippine Marines. they have resorted to them a number of times in the jungles when ambushed by or ambushing the muslim seperatists. instances supposedly where the target of the blade was cut in half. more used for chopping thru the jungle foliage tho.

a more mundain version (mine) that shows the upper edge better.

Stan S. · 15th January 2012, 10:11 PM

Wow! What beutiful pieces some of you have! Please keep them coming. Thanks!

14th January 2012, 10:53 PM	#3
dralin23 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 204	some kirach swords hi rick and stan, here are 2 kirach swords from my collection. the first one is an phantastic piece of art. it is an short sword with an light blade. the blade is only 680mm (26,75in) the lenght over all is 88cm(34,5in) the wight is only 802 gr. original was the the hilt silverplated. the most important feature is, these phantastic ironwork at the blade. these pattern was cutting in to the blade. both swords are from the same size. i think these swors was made not for for caverlery man than for the use from the back from an horse are these swords to short. Attached Images

14th January 2012, 11:20 PM	#4
dralin23 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 204	the second kirach sword here my second kirach sword, the blade from these kirach was made from an nice laminated steel. the size is exactly the same like the first one but the blade is more heavy like the other one. kirach swords are not so often to see like khanda ore sossunpatta swords soit is intresting to see such swords from other collectors! thanks!! stefan . Attached Images

15th January 2012, 04:07 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Nice to see some Indian weapons for a change . I also have a kirach, which I got not so long ago. They are not seen very often. The hand guard is a makara's head, with a snake coming out of its mouth. Attached Images

15th January 2012, 04:12 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	For some reason or other the last picture could not be downloaded in the last post, but here it is - I hope. The picture was too big . Attached Images

15th January 2012, 04:57 PM	#9
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Rick, Long time no hear, but that is my fault – I know. I have been busy writing on some articles, now that the Bundi katar article has been published, I research the age of the katar, and this is almost finished. Then comes the research for a half written article about a tulwar I have, which I can pin point, not only to a certain state, but also to a state within a state. All very interesting, but also very time consuming. The kirach hilt is a lovely one, and as old as the blade. The makara and the snake are unusual, as is the form of the disc. At the inside of the disc you can see a flower. Sorry for the two pictures - I must be getting old . Jens Attached Images

12th January 2012, 02:39 AM	#1
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Rick, I am pretty sure your sword is a kirach too but designed for combat against havier armored opponents. To me it looks almost as if it served a similar purpose to a tegha - serious armor crushing, plus piercing capabilities. I wonder how heavy it is? You are correct, most kirach I see are similar to mine. However, many have a different kind of blade, where the tip is shaped almost like an up-side-down kissake of a samurai sword. This results in the edge on the convex (cutting) side of the blade to be almost flat. I don't know if this indicates a different use, geographical region, or something else. I'll clean the sword over the weekend and will try to get a few more pictures including some close-ups. At a glance the blade does not appear to be pattern welded. Its just a plain, although good quality steel, but perhaps I will learn otherwise as I clean this baby.

12th January 2012, 04:09 AM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Hi Stan, That sword weighs in at a tad over two pounds, 32.035 oz . I'm not so sure about its chopping qualities; but it is a superb blade for the thrust despite (or maybe because of ?) its downward curve . I have tried it out on ye trusty pool noodle . I'd be interested in the weight of your example; these swords come along so rarely; more information is always helpful .

15th January 2012, 04:14 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	That is a lovely hilt, Jens ! I would be most interested in learning about combat methods with this sword form .

15th January 2012, 05:22 PM	#10
dralin23 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 204	the first kirach hi rick, your question is intresting and i´m not sure if these sword was reshaped or not. my first intention is that these sword is original in the shape, but it is also truely possible that these sword was an khanda. but i think it was made as an kirach, than the tip is deeper than the beginn from the cutting edge before the hilt and if someone have reshaped these swordblade than must be the blade was very wide at the tip.

15th January 2012, 05:43 PM	#11
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Hi Jens, here's to getting older; it beats the alternative . I'm glad to hear you are putting your knowledge to paper . Could you hazard a guess as to the area that hilt came from ? Stefan, the chiseling on that blade is marvelous .

15th January 2012, 06:21 PM	#12
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Rick, NNW 17th century. As to the way of fighting with these swords, I don't think the size was the most important, as the tulwar is not any longer and the tulwar was used for horse fighting. I don't know, but to me it seems, as if the forward bend tip is excellent for a horseman's attack - for someone who sits higher that the one whom he wants to attack.

15th January 2012, 10:11 PM	#14
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Wow! What beutiful pieces some of you have! Please keep them coming. Thanks!