Unusual South Indian Sword

[Andrew]

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and

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Honestly, I don't see the confusion.

Let's get back to discussion of the weapon. I find debate over the forum rules tiresome.

[wepnz]

Ah, I was meaning to reply to this but the time just slipped by. Anyhow I agree with Ashoka (I'm guessing you are actually from the Ashoka Arts site), I find this sword unusual and rare. I am planning to find some time to look up Rawson's book which is rare to find and havn't yet thoroughly checked other detailed tomes, but from common reference books or anything on the web this type of sword simply cannot be found. I have not found it on any auction sites, arms dealers or swap forums.

Also another reason this sword is probably old, because the post 17th century examples are dominated by curved tulwar or khanda and firangi type for straight swords. An interesting feature as I noted is the sharp point, and this convergence to the point actually begins quite a ways before in the blade so it's it's a smooth triangle all the way back to hilt. Many of the straight swords have khanda type flange like heads or straight uniform width blade with triangle point at end liek gladius. Closest thing are sword in sculptures which date back to earlier periods (actually one of the few sources for earlier centuries as very few pieces seem to exist before 16th). Yet again I don't see long flowing point like this sword, usually they bulge out before coming to a point.

In fact, if it hadn't been noted on the site as Indian origin, I would never have guessed it. The handle and hilt are the only Indic like features at first, yet even the pattern on the pommel could be mistaken for Chinese type styling. I would appreciate if Gonzalo can refer me to any other examples of this type of Indian sword.

[Gonzalo G]

Hi. I only meant what I wrotte. I was not talking about commercial availability or scarcity, but about the type of sword. And age is relative, as in the India´s timeline, this is not a very "old" sword, meaning from the 7th Century, to mention a date. You must understand that this statements are made in response of some doubts about the indian origin of this specific sword. And you know that there are very old references and representations of straight indian swords with this kind of hilts, MUCH older than the 16th Century. As for this specific piece, I don´t have any doubt it is as old and scarce as you say. But the type is much older and was more common in India than some people seems to believe. This is not a point related to the actual value, or importance, of this specific piece, but to to the knowledge of the history of the indian swords, and their diversity. There is not the smallest intention to minimize, or to question values, age, scarcity, etc., of a piece on auction or sale, as it has never been of my interest.
Regards

Gonzalo
Gonzalo