Pictures Please (Sikh Sword)

galvano · 9th May 2007, 05:28 PM

hi
the sikh sword it is not the khanda ?
galvano

Lew · 9th May 2007, 05:31 PM

Found one on Artzi's site.

http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=406

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=1583

Lew

Rick · 9th May 2007, 05:35 PM

That's a beautiful sword Jens.
From what I have gathered so far I understand this form is a thrusting sword.

More pictures .. anyone ?
Thanks Lew!

Lew · 9th May 2007, 06:34 PM

Posted more pics.

Lew

Flavio · 9th May 2007, 07:30 PM

Beautiful pieces Jens and Rick!!!! Unfortunately I haven't a kirach, but I found a picture of a kirach on what a think is an Oldman catalogue (...but the picture is quit bad

)

Rick · 9th May 2007, 08:33 PM

Thanks Flavio.

Interesting to see that the example you show is a basket hilt too.

Jim McDougall · 9th May 2007, 08:37 PM

Hi Galvano,
You're right, the sword traditionally held as sacred by the Sikhs is the khanda, however as well pointed out by Jens and the others, the kirach was also favored. More difficult to identify specifically as Sikh are the tulwars, which were commonly used by Sikhs in combat. There are sometimes mottos or wording found under the hilt on some of these, but more often they are relatively unmarked. As one Sikh I was speaking with described when asked how to properly identify a Sikh sword..."if the sword was used by a Sikh, then any sword is a Sikh sword"!

All the best,
Jim

Jens Nordlunde · 10th May 2007, 04:37 PM

Hi Rick,

Yes, I too believe them to be trusting swords. The way I see it, it would be excellent to use, by someone who was riding, on something lower than himself, a food soldier or maybe a deer, there would have been quite a lot of power behind the trust.

The funny thing with mine is, that the hand guard can be screwed off. Figiel had a sword with the same kind of hilt on his auction, I wonder if his hand guard could also be removed.

Rick · 10th May 2007, 05:23 PM

Removable knucklebow ?!?
A very interesting feature Jens; if your example is a hunting sword it would be very good for the final thrust to the animal's heart.

I was poking through the notes and index in Elgood's Hindu Arms and from what I have been able to gather from his notes the swords with the more acute downcurving points are from the Deccan, and that the Kirach was the sword issued to Sikh Artillerymen .

I still am stymied as to why there are so few examples to be seen .

Maybe there just weren't that many Artillerymen .........

9th May 2007, 05:28 PM	#1
galvano Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 178	sikh hi the sikh sword it is not the khanda ? galvano

9th May 2007, 05:31 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Found one on Artzi's site. http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=406 http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=1583 Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 9th May 2007 at 06:32 PM.

9th May 2007, 07:30 PM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Beautiful pieces Jens and Rick!!!! Unfortunately I haven't a kirach, but I found a picture of a kirach on what a think is an Oldman catalogue (...but the picture is quit bad ) Attached Images

10th May 2007, 04:37 PM	#8
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Rick, Yes, I too believe them to be trusting swords. The way I see it, it would be excellent to use, by someone who was riding, on something lower than himself, a food soldier or maybe a deer, there would have been quite a lot of power behind the trust. The funny thing with mine is, that the hand guard can be screwed off. Figiel had a sword with the same kind of hilt on his auction, I wonder if his hand guard could also be removed. Attached Images

9th May 2007, 05:35 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	That's a beautiful sword Jens. From what I have gathered so far I understand this form is a thrusting sword. More pictures .. anyone ? Thanks Lew!

9th May 2007, 06:34 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Posted more pics. Lew

9th May 2007, 08:33 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Thanks Flavio. Interesting to see that the example you show is a basket hilt too.

9th May 2007, 08:37 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,285	Hi Galvano, You're right, the sword traditionally held as sacred by the Sikhs is the khanda, however as well pointed out by Jens and the others, the kirach was also favored. More difficult to identify specifically as Sikh are the tulwars, which were commonly used by Sikhs in combat. There are sometimes mottos or wording found under the hilt on some of these, but more often they are relatively unmarked. As one Sikh I was speaking with described when asked how to properly identify a Sikh sword..."if the sword was used by a Sikh, then any sword is a Sikh sword"! All the best, Jim

10th May 2007, 05:23 PM	#9
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Removable knucklebow ?!? A very interesting feature Jens; if your example is a hunting sword it would be very good for the final thrust to the animal's heart. I was poking through the notes and index in Elgood's Hindu Arms and from what I have been able to gather from his notes the swords with the more acute downcurving points are from the Deccan, and that the Kirach was the sword issued to Sikh Artillerymen . I still am stymied as to why there are so few examples to be seen . Maybe there just weren't that many Artillerymen .........