help me to identify this sword

richardshelton · 30th May 2025, 12:45 PM

I recently came across an old sword and would really appreciate your expertise in helping me identify it. The sword has some inscriptions or markings on the blade, but due to age and rust, they’re quite difficult to read. I’ve attached clear photos showing the full sword and close-ups of the text area.

Here’s what I know so far:

The sword appears to be quite old, possibly antique.

There are inscriptions or etchings on the blade, though they are partially obscured due to corrosion.

The blade shape, guard, and pommel design suggest it might be from a specific period or region, but I’m not certain.

I’d be grateful if anyone could:

Help identify the type or origin of this sword.

Provide insights into what the text or symbols might say or mean.

Suggest any resources or methods for cleaning the blade safely (without damaging potential historical details).

Thanks in advance for any help or direction. Looking forward to your insights!

Ian · 30th May 2025, 01:19 PM

Hi Richard,

Thanks for posting pictures of this sword. This is an Indian sword, one of a group of swords that are generally referred to as tulwar. The style of your blade derives from the Ottoman kilij, a curved saber with a swollen end called a yelman. Usually the yelman is sharpened on the back edge.

You will find many swords on this site if you search for "tulwar." Age is hard to say from the pictures, and perhaps the inscriptions will help pin it down. Many of these swords date from the 19th C, but 18th C might also be possible. The punched marks are fairly common on these swords and may indicate the particular armory where it was made.

Hopefully, our Indian arms experts can give you a better reading of this one and a translation of the markings.

Regards, Ian.

richardshelton · 30th May 2025, 02:25 PM

Hi Ian,

Thank you so much for your detailed response and for identifying the sword as a tulwar. I really appreciate the insight regarding the blade’s style being influenced by the Ottoman kilij, especially the mention of the yelman — that helps me understand the design much better.

I’ll definitely search the forum for other tulwars to compare and learn more. Hopefully, the inscriptions can provide more clues about its origin or date. I wasn’t aware that the punched marks might point to a specific armory — that’s a fascinating detail I’ll look into further.

I also wanted to mention that the hilt appears to have a pure silver plating, which might be relevant in terms of quality, status, or origin. If that provides any additional clues, I’d love to hear thoughts on that as well.

Looking forward to hearing from others too, especially those with expertise in Indian arms. I’ll try to upload clearer images of the inscriptions soon to help with translation.

Thanks again for your help!

Jim McDougall · 30th May 2025, 03:05 PM

Richard,
You seem to have acquired a tulwar with significant inherent history!
This is likely a Rajput tulwar from NW India, Rajasthan, and these punch dot markings are from the BIKANER arsenal in that state. This is a kind of shorthand for the DEVANAGARI script which evolved in Gujerat in the 16th c.

The expanded distal end of the blade is called the 'yelman' and this feature was used on Turkic blades in the early evolution of the saber, and prevailed on the swords which became familiar as the Ottoman kilij/pala.
In India, the Turkic traditions kept this feature on blades through the 18th century.

The script on the spine of the blade would be I presume devanagari, though it is always tempting to think it might be gurmukhi, the script used by Sikhs, more research needed.

In cleaning...RESTRAINT!! plzzzzz!
use light oil WD40 with the finest steel wool only. This is a historic item, and need conservation rather than restoration. Patina is incarnate history and ots character is important.

Jim McDougall · 30th May 2025, 06:54 PM

Wanted to add an example of another Rajput tulwar of 18th c, more munitions grade and virtually munitions grade. However note the yelman.

The Rajputs often were allied with Mughals, and Anup Singh was ruler of the state of Bikaner from 1669 appointed by Mughal ruler Aurengzeb. Bikaner is located in the Thar desert and the armory situated in Junagarh fort.

As noted the punch dot characters used at Bikaner are a kind of shorthand version of Gujerati script.

The Rajputs were notably the most powerful warriors in India, and the dynamics of their history is extensive.

It seems that weapons held in Bikaner are typically clean, well preserved. However in the 19th century many entered circulation with collectors, and of these likely many ended up in less than optimum conditions which might account for the active rust etc. on this example. Many of the armories of the princely states were broken up during the 1860s onward, and many of the weapons became souvenirs or the better ones into collections, while tons were scrapped. It seems Bikaner remained largely intact . As far as found, and Jens Nordlund studied this extensively, the Bikaner marks are the only definitive armory markings identified.

nihung11 · 30th May 2025, 11:50 PM

Hi Richard,

Based on my observations, I believe this could be a Bikaner, India armory stamp. I’m not 100% sure, but the marking style appears to be the same. I can assist with translating as well; on the spine, it reads "karigar," which means "maker," though I couldn’t make out the rest due to rust. The numbering on the blade is "x34" (the "x" is unknown). It seems to resemble a Kilji-style tulwar.

richardshelton · 31st May 2025, 02:17 PM

Thank you both, Jim and nihung11, for your incredibly insightful and generous responses!

Jim, your depth of knowledge is astounding, and I’m truly grateful for the historical context you've provided not only about the Bikaner markings but also the broader cultural and martial history surrounding this tulwar. I especially appreciate the cautionary advice regarding preservation over restoration. I’ll be following your recommendation closely WD40 and the finest steel wool only!

Nihung11, thank you as well for taking the time to examine the markings and for your help with the translation. "Karigar" makes perfect sense and adds a personal touch to the blade’s story, knowing it references the maker. I’ll do my best to clear up the rust carefully and perhaps be able to share clearer images for further interpretation.

I’m honored to be learning from such knowledgeable contributors. Much appreciated!

also special thanks to IAN

Best regards,
Richard

Jim McDougall · 31st May 2025, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nihung11

Hi Richard,

Based on my observations, I believe this could be a Bikaner, India armory stamp. I’m not 100% sure, but the marking style appears to be the same. I can assist with translating as well; on the spine, it reads "karigar," which means "maker," though I couldn’t make out the rest due to rust. The numbering on the blade is "x34" (the "x" is unknown). It seems to resemble a Kilji-style tulwar.

Thanks for coming in and agreeing with my suggestion (post #4) that the markings appear Bikaner. It is most helpful that you can translate...I can only recognize the style of the markings. As you suggest, as I earlier mentioned, the blade with pronounced yelman is a Turkic form from much earlier sabers which prevailed in the Ottoman kilij/pala and which continued in degree in favor in India on tulwar blades until the beginning of 19th c.

Jim McDougall · 31st May 2025, 10:32 PM

Richard, thank you for the kind words, and for your input and help on my pata thread. Im glad I could add this information which I learned some time ago in studying these weapons of these fascinating cultures. For me, its exciting to see an actual example with true Bikaner markings!! Ive never owned one, only seen pictures, so this is amazing.

30th May 2025, 12:45 PM	#1
richardshelton Member Join Date: May 2025 Location: india Posts: 6	help me to identify this sword I recently came across an old sword and would really appreciate your expertise in helping me identify it. The sword has some inscriptions or markings on the blade, but due to age and rust, they’re quite difficult to read. I’ve attached clear photos showing the full sword and close-ups of the text area. Here’s what I know so far: The sword appears to be quite old, possibly antique. There are inscriptions or etchings on the blade, though they are partially obscured due to corrosion. The blade shape, guard, and pommel design suggest it might be from a specific period or region, but I’m not certain. I’d be grateful if anyone could: Help identify the type or origin of this sword. Provide insights into what the text or symbols might say or mean. Suggest any resources or methods for cleaning the blade safely (without damaging potential historical details). Thanks in advance for any help or direction. Looking forward to your insights! Attached Images

30th May 2025, 06:54 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,275	Wanted to add an example of another Rajput tulwar of 18th c, more munitions grade and virtually munitions grade. However note the yelman. The Rajputs often were allied with Mughals, and Anup Singh was ruler of the state of Bikaner from 1669 appointed by Mughal ruler Aurengzeb. Bikaner is located in the Thar desert and the armory situated in Junagarh fort. As noted the punch dot characters used at Bikaner are a kind of shorthand version of Gujerati script. The Rajputs were notably the most powerful warriors in India, and the dynamics of their history is extensive. It seems that weapons held in Bikaner are typically clean, well preserved. However in the 19th century many entered circulation with collectors, and of these likely many ended up in less than optimum conditions which might account for the active rust etc. on this example. Many of the armories of the princely states were broken up during the 1860s onward, and many of the weapons became souvenirs or the better ones into collections, while tons were scrapped. It seems Bikaner remained largely intact . As far as found, and Jens Nordlund studied this extensively, the Bikaner marks are the only definitive armory markings identified. Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 30th May 2025 at 07:41 PM.

30th May 2025, 01:19 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,392	Hi Richard, Thanks for posting pictures of this sword. This is an Indian sword, one of a group of swords that are generally referred to as tulwar. The style of your blade derives from the Ottoman kilij, a curved saber with a swollen end called a yelman. Usually the yelman is sharpened on the back edge. You will find many swords on this site if you search for "tulwar." Age is hard to say from the pictures, and perhaps the inscriptions will help pin it down. Many of these swords date from the 19th C, but 18th C might also be possible. The punched marks are fairly common on these swords and may indicate the particular armory where it was made. Hopefully, our Indian arms experts can give you a better reading of this one and a translation of the markings. Regards, Ian.

30th May 2025, 02:25 PM	#3
richardshelton Member Join Date: May 2025 Location: india Posts: 6	Hi Ian, Thank you so much for your detailed response and for identifying the sword as a tulwar. I really appreciate the insight regarding the blade’s style being influenced by the Ottoman kilij, especially the mention of the yelman — that helps me understand the design much better. I’ll definitely search the forum for other tulwars to compare and learn more. Hopefully, the inscriptions can provide more clues about its origin or date. I wasn’t aware that the punched marks might point to a specific armory — that’s a fascinating detail I’ll look into further. I also wanted to mention that the hilt appears to have a pure silver plating, which might be relevant in terms of quality, status, or origin. If that provides any additional clues, I’d love to hear thoughts on that as well. Looking forward to hearing from others too, especially those with expertise in Indian arms. I’ll try to upload clearer images of the inscriptions soon to help with translation. Thanks again for your help!

30th May 2025, 03:05 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,275	Richard, You seem to have acquired a tulwar with significant inherent history! This is likely a Rajput tulwar from NW India, Rajasthan, and these punch dot markings are from the BIKANER arsenal in that state. This is a kind of shorthand for the DEVANAGARI script which evolved in Gujerat in the 16th c. The expanded distal end of the blade is called the 'yelman' and this feature was used on Turkic blades in the early evolution of the saber, and prevailed on the swords which became familiar as the Ottoman kilij/pala. In India, the Turkic traditions kept this feature on blades through the 18th century. The script on the spine of the blade would be I presume devanagari, though it is always tempting to think it might be gurmukhi, the script used by Sikhs, more research needed. In cleaning...RESTRAINT!! plzzzzz! use light oil WD40 with the finest steel wool only. This is a historic item, and need conservation rather than restoration. Patina is incarnate history and ots character is important.

30th May 2025, 11:50 PM	#6
nihung11 Member Join Date: Apr 2025 Posts: 3	Hi Richard, Based on my observations, I believe this could be a Bikaner, India armory stamp. I’m not 100% sure, but the marking style appears to be the same. I can assist with translating as well; on the spine, it reads "karigar," which means "maker," though I couldn’t make out the rest due to rust. The numbering on the blade is "x34" (the "x" is unknown). It seems to resemble a Kilji-style tulwar.

31st May 2025, 02:17 PM	#7
richardshelton Member Join Date: May 2025 Location: india Posts: 6	Thank you both, Jim and nihung11, for your incredibly insightful and generous responses! Jim, your depth of knowledge is astounding, and I’m truly grateful for the historical context you've provided not only about the Bikaner markings but also the broader cultural and martial history surrounding this tulwar. I especially appreciate the cautionary advice regarding preservation over restoration. I’ll be following your recommendation closely WD40 and the finest steel wool only! Nihung11, thank you as well for taking the time to examine the markings and for your help with the translation. "Karigar" makes perfect sense and adds a personal touch to the blade’s story, knowing it references the maker. I’ll do my best to clear up the rust carefully and perhaps be able to share clearer images for further interpretation. I’m honored to be learning from such knowledgeable contributors. Much appreciated! also special thanks to IAN Best regards, Richard

31st May 2025, 10:32 PM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,275	Richard, thank you for the kind words, and for your input and help on my pata thread. Im glad I could add this information which I learned some time ago in studying these weapons of these fascinating cultures. For me, its exciting to see an actual example with true Bikaner markings!! Ive never owned one, only seen pictures, so this is amazing.