Is This A Pala With An Indian Blade?

ariel · 15th October 2017, 04:03 AM

The velvet looks far too new to be of any historical value. To me, it is an eyesore, a clumsy attempt of the seller to hide the damage to the handle.
I would not hesitate to remove it.

Victrix · 15th October 2017, 11:24 AM

Hi Asian Paladin,

I don’t know if this is of any significance, but I noticed that none of your Turkish hilted swords have any holes in the pommel for a wrist cord.

You may consider the possibility of carefully unravelling the velvet covering (at least partly) on the grip with the intention of putting it back again?

Regards,

Jens Nordlunde · 15th October 2017, 12:20 PM

Maybe this ten years old thread will be of interest.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...de+katar+stamp

A second thought. I dont own any of these blades myself, but I have seen the katar mark on three or four blades, one even with an additional trisula, and all of these stamps were very deep. This must mean that the stamps were made while the blades were hot, as I dont think such a deep stanp could be made on a cold blade.

Aslan Paladin · 15th October 2017, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Maybe this ten years old thread will be of interest.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...de+katar+stamp

A second thought. I dont own any of these blades myself, but I have seen the katar mark on three or four blades, one even with an additional trisula, and all of these stamps were very deep. This must mean that the stamps were made while the blades were hot, as I dont think such a deep stanp could be made on a cold blade.

Interesting. So Jens, since that thread, has the nature of the mark been identified (A royal seal of some sort, a religious symbol, an armoury mark, a maker's mark or any of these on an individual basis) or is it still to be determined?

Aslan Paladin · 15th October 2017, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The velvet looks far too new to be of any historical value. To me, it is an eyesore, a clumsy attempt of the seller to hide the damage to the handle.
I would not hesitate to remove it.

It may have been the seller or a previous owner who put on the velvet covering. I don't think it was originally meant as part of the hilt. If the grip underneath was intact then I might think it was added for additional comfort when handling it rather than just to hide damage. As I have said earlier I don't have the time and means to have the hilt restored if I decide to remove the velvet cover. And anyway this sword is not a presentation or prestige piece that would greatly benefit from a restoration IMHO but a battle and probable provincial example that has seen extensive use (as suggested by the worn edge of the blade due to multiple sharpening and the damaged hilt). And if that is the case, I wouldn't want to alter the swords history in anyway. But I agree with you that it is not aesthetically pleasing.

Aslan Paladin · 15th October 2017, 09:19 PM

Victrix, the only Turkish pommeled sword in the pictured grouping that has what could pass for a hole on the pommel to accommodate a wrist cord is the one on the left side and it doesn't have a metal tube through it or a washer around it like in classic Turkish swords. I got it from Artzi of Oriental Arms some time ago and he referred to it as a Bedouin Ottoman saber or a Turkish style hilted sword with a European blade from the Bedouins of Israel, Palestine and the Sinai peninsula. Some Turkish-hilted sabers from the Eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire like the Levant that I have seen do not have a hole for a wrist cord. So I would say at least the hilts of the three swords I have probably came from the eastern provinces or areas of influence of the Ottoman Empire.

15th October 2017, 12:20 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Maybe this ten years old thread will be of interest. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...de+katar+stamp A second thought. I dont own any of these blades myself, but I have seen the katar mark on three or four blades, one even with an additional trisula, and all of these stamps were very deep. This must mean that the stamps were made while the blades were hot, as I dont think such a deep stanp could be made on a cold blade. Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 15th October 2017 at 02:30 PM.

15th October 2017, 04:03 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The velvet looks far too new to be of any historical value. To me, it is an eyesore, a clumsy attempt of the seller to hide the damage to the handle. I would not hesitate to remove it.

15th October 2017, 11:24 AM	#2
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 755	Hi Asian Paladin, I don’t know if this is of any significance, but I noticed that none of your Turkish hilted swords have any holes in the pommel for a wrist cord. You may consider the possibility of carefully unravelling the velvet covering (at least partly) on the grip with the intention of putting it back again? Regards,

15th October 2017, 09:19 PM	#6
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	Victrix, the only Turkish pommeled sword in the pictured grouping that has what could pass for a hole on the pommel to accommodate a wrist cord is the one on the left side and it doesn't have a metal tube through it or a washer around it like in classic Turkish swords. I got it from Artzi of Oriental Arms some time ago and he referred to it as a Bedouin Ottoman saber or a Turkish style hilted sword with a European blade from the Bedouins of Israel, Palestine and the Sinai peninsula. Some Turkish-hilted sabers from the Eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire like the Levant that I have seen do not have a hole for a wrist cord. So I would say at least the hilts of the three swords I have probably came from the eastern provinces or areas of influence of the Ottoman Empire.