Mughal sword handle. Am I dreaming?

Emanuel · 7th June 2012, 12:53 PM

Ariel for the moment my exposure has been only to Hyderabad and Goa and to the experiences of the Indian collectors I've met and it's been very limited. Other forum members understand the situation much better than I do.

It seems that the craft is alive and very strong in northern India, particularly in Punjab where the Sikh market is very strong. The spectrum runs from dealers selling old pieces to smiths making good quality weapons and companies making "cheap" replicas. I know of Sikh Gatka practitioners in Toronto periodically making trips back to Punjab to buy equipment.

At the same time, based on my experience here in Hyderabad, it seems there isn't that much stuff lying around anymore, at least not here in the South. The old princely armouries like Mysore are actually keeping their arsenals under lock and the antique/junk shops have nothing. I Goa I went to a number of shops/flee markets and such and I asked around, I found nothing. You'd think that what with the place's history and Portuguese presence there would be good stuff left around.

Complicating things is that owning, buying/selling edged weapons is illegal unless one has special dispensation/permits. Sikhs are among the few that can legally own and bear sharp weapons. This is understandable, although generally quite tolerant, crowds here are passionate and easily swayed. Marches, parades and festivals can easily turn violent, and no government here wants armed crowds slaughtering each other.

All of this I think contributes to a rise in prices, both local and global.

Jens Nordlunde · 13th June 2012, 05:06 PM

I am with Alex, and it may even be late 18th century.
As to the price - if you don't like it, don't buy it

.
Speaking about prices, when I started to collect in 1967 the prices were.....
Jens

13th June 2012, 05:06 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I am with Alex, and it may even be late 18th century. As to the price - if you don't like it, don't buy it. Speaking about prices, when I started to collect in 1967 the prices were..... Jens

7th June 2012, 12:53 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Ariel for the moment my exposure has been only to Hyderabad and Goa and to the experiences of the Indian collectors I've met and it's been very limited. Other forum members understand the situation much better than I do. It seems that the craft is alive and very strong in northern India, particularly in Punjab where the Sikh market is very strong. The spectrum runs from dealers selling old pieces to smiths making good quality weapons and companies making "cheap" replicas. I know of Sikh Gatka practitioners in Toronto periodically making trips back to Punjab to buy equipment. At the same time, based on my experience here in Hyderabad, it seems there isn't that much stuff lying around anymore, at least not here in the South. The old princely armouries like Mysore are actually keeping their arsenals under lock and the antique/junk shops have nothing. I Goa I went to a number of shops/flee markets and such and I asked around, I found nothing. You'd think that what with the place's history and Portuguese presence there would be good stuff left around. Complicating things is that owning, buying/selling edged weapons is illegal unless one has special dispensation/permits. Sikhs are among the few that can legally own and bear sharp weapons. This is understandable, although generally quite tolerant, crowds here are passionate and easily swayed. Marches, parades and festivals can easily turn violent, and no government here wants armed crowds slaughtering each other. All of this I think contributes to a rise in prices, both local and global.