Khanda-hilted swords

Timo Nieminen · 24th March 2014, 12:48 AM

A couple of khanda-hilted swords. The bottom one is supposed to be 18th century or older, European blade. It's very long, about the length of a typical European longsword (i.e., hand-and-a-half sword).

The top one feels strange in the hand. I haven't held/swung it enough to get a feel for how to best move it. It isn't balanced like most of my other swords, so it feels odd.

Runjeet Singh · 25th March 2014, 10:42 AM

Hi Timo,

Hard to comment precisely without detailed photos, but if you are only looking for general comments, then I would say you are more or less correct in the assumption of 18thC (maybe 17th) on the lower Firganghi (you didn't call them that, that is the correct term).

I think Khanda is reserved as the name of the sword with a straight blade and spatulate tip, usually double edged. These can have any type of hilt, so your hilts, I would simply refer to as basket hilts, but the swords as firanghi due to European style/made blades (Firanghi meaning foreigner). Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs!

The top one doesn't look as old, but maybe it has been re-polished. The scabbard and hilt lining is certainly recent.

Hard things to handle, perhaps if you think of them as cavalry swords, and the fact they would have been used from horseback, with a nearly straight arm, then that would make more sense for you. Don't forget the pommel 'spike' was also used so the sword could be used as a two handed sword.

Picture below are a typical 'Khanda', and the younger (but older?!) brother the 'Patissa'.

Hope that helps!
Runjeet.

Timo Nieminen · 26th March 2014, 10:15 PM

The bottom one is a classic firangi. The blade on the top one is not like any blade I've seen on a firangi before. Also not like any other Indian blade I've seen.

The bottom one is about 1170g, centre of percussion (i.e, forward pivot point) is close to the tip, about 6" in. So not the theoretical ideal for a cut-and-thrust sword, but close enough so it works well as a cut-and-thrust sword. I have a (modern) Chinese longsword (i.e., hand and a half sword) of very similar balance (but very different hilt).

The top one has a quite heavy hilt. Enough to really feel it if twisting the sword around. About 1250g, balanced in closer than the other one, but the centre of percussion is close to halfway down the blade - this is balanced like a Chinese cavalry dao. Except it's much longer, and the point of balance (centre of mass/gravity) is much closer to the hilt. So it feels funny in the hand.

24th March 2014, 12:48 AM	#1
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	Khanda-hilted swords A couple of khanda-hilted swords. The bottom one is supposed to be 18th century or older, European blade. It's very long, about the length of a typical European longsword (i.e., hand-and-a-half sword). The top one feels strange in the hand. I haven't held/swung it enough to get a feel for how to best move it. It isn't balanced like most of my other swords, so it feels odd. Attached Images

25th March 2014, 10:42 AM	#2
Runjeet Singh Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warwickshire, England Posts: 150	Hi Timo, Hard to comment precisely without detailed photos, but if you are only looking for general comments, then I would say you are more or less correct in the assumption of 18thC (maybe 17th) on the lower Firganghi (you didn't call them that, that is the correct term). I think Khanda is reserved as the name of the sword with a straight blade and spatulate tip, usually double edged. These can have any type of hilt, so your hilts, I would simply refer to as basket hilts, but the swords as firanghi due to European style/made blades (Firanghi meaning foreigner). Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs! The top one doesn't look as old, but maybe it has been re-polished. The scabbard and hilt lining is certainly recent. Hard things to handle, perhaps if you think of them as cavalry swords, and the fact they would have been used from horseback, with a nearly straight arm, then that would make more sense for you. Don't forget the pommel 'spike' was also used so the sword could be used as a two handed sword. Picture below are a typical 'Khanda', and the younger (but older?!) brother the 'Patissa'. Hope that helps! Runjeet. Attached Images

26th March 2014, 10:15 PM	#3
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	The bottom one is a classic firangi. The blade on the top one is not like any blade I've seen on a firangi before. Also not like any other Indian blade I've seen. The bottom one is about 1170g, centre of percussion (i.e, forward pivot point) is close to the tip, about 6" in. So not the theoretical ideal for a cut-and-thrust sword, but close enough so it works well as a cut-and-thrust sword. I have a (modern) Chinese longsword (i.e., hand and a half sword) of very similar balance (but very different hilt). The top one has a quite heavy hilt. Enough to really feel it if twisting the sword around. About 1250g, balanced in closer than the other one, but the centre of percussion is close to halfway down the blade - this is balanced like a Chinese cavalry dao. Except it's much longer, and the point of balance (centre of mass/gravity) is much closer to the hilt. So it feels funny in the hand. Last edited by Timo Nieminen; 27th March 2014 at 12:01 AM.