Kirach (or something) for comment

Timo Nieminen · 15th April 2014, 06:22 AM

I'd call it a khanda. Classic khanda blade, with a common style of hilt. Khandas with a little bit of droop don't seem to be too uncommon.

Cthulhu · 15th April 2014, 07:35 AM

If it had a thin blade with reinforcement strips on the proximal edges, I'd definitely call it a khanda, since everything else matches. I'm a bit fuzzy on identifying khandas lacking those features. Is the tip shape alone sufficiently diagnostic to call it a khanda, and a kirach would be pointy and forward swept?

Timo Nieminen · 15th April 2014, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

If it had a thin blade with reinforcement strips on the proximal edges, I'd definitely call it a khanda, since everything else matches. I'm a bit fuzzy on identifying khandas lacking those features. Is the tip shape alone sufficiently diagnostic to call it a khanda, and a kirach would be pointy and forward swept?

If by tip shape, you also mean the width relative to the width of the rest of the blade, I think so. With the reservation that the sword should also be Indian or Indian-style. People appear happy to call tulwar-hilted khandas with no reinforcing strips khandas, so the khanda-hilted version should be even more a khanda.

I wonder if people would call it a khanda if it had a European-style hilt? Or a Chinese or Japanese style hilt?

A kirach is usually described as a cut and thrust sword, so should have a pointy tip. I've seen swords described as "kirach" with completely straight blades, by which criteria a lot of firangi might be classifiable as kirach (but aren't classified as such), so there seems to be more to kirach-ness.

Emanuel · 15th April 2014, 10:33 PM

Patissa blade with khanda hilt

Sossan · 15th April 2014, 07:40 AM

Yes Khanda or Patissa type, definitely not a Kirach.

weapons 27 · 15th April 2014, 12:03 PM

Yes it's a khanda with typical handle

Emanuel · 15th April 2014, 01:34 PM

Nice khanda, nifty back edge at the tip. I would have bid on it if not for the high shipping costs.

Pattern welded blade. An etch should bring it out nicely.

Cthulhu · 15th April 2014, 09:25 PM

Thanks for all the comments, and the clear consensus. Having now done more reading on these forums, I'm a little embarrassed to have called it a kirach rather than a khanda. But I comfort myself with the evidence from an old thread that even Jim McDougall was uncertain about the difference back in June 2010.

15th April 2014, 06:22 AM	#1
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	I'd call it a khanda. Classic khanda blade, with a common style of hilt. Khandas with a little bit of droop don't seem to be too uncommon.

15th April 2014, 07:35 AM	#2
Cthulhu Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Valley, California Posts: 46	If it had a thin blade with reinforcement strips on the proximal edges, I'd definitely call it a khanda, since everything else matches. I'm a bit fuzzy on identifying khandas lacking those features. Is the tip shape alone sufficiently diagnostic to call it a khanda, and a kirach would be pointy and forward swept?

15th April 2014, 10:33 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Patissa blade with khanda hilt

15th April 2014, 07:40 AM	#5
Sossan Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 7	Yes Khanda or Patissa type, definitely not a Kirach.

15th April 2014, 12:03 PM	#6
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	Yes it's a khanda with typical handle

15th April 2014, 01:34 PM	#7
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Nice khanda, nifty back edge at the tip. I would have bid on it if not for the high shipping costs. Pattern welded blade. An etch should bring it out nicely.

15th April 2014, 09:25 PM	#8
Cthulhu Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Central Valley, California Posts: 46	Thanks for all the comments, and the clear consensus. Having now done more reading on these forums, I'm a little embarrassed to have called it a kirach rather than a khanda. But I comfort myself with the evidence from an old thread that even Jim McDougall was uncertain about the difference back in June 2010.