Easyerb Sword - (Tibet?)

[kronckew]

In the process of acquiring this sword at the moment. Won it at auction. Was listed as:


EASTERN SHORT SWORD,
the jewelled scabbard embossed with dragon designs, 69cm long overall, the visible blade 53cm long.


I'm guessing it is Tibetan, or maybe Bhutanese as it has a dragon motif scabbard,


Any info y'all can add will be appreciated.



Thanks,

Wayne

[Tim Simmons]

Nepalese? The handle looks like I Nepalese knife I once had.

[kronckew]

Yup, that is a possibility too, looks very Ban-like. The weapon styles of the region do tend to blur a bit as they get sold and distributed beyond national borders. I'm tending towards the Nepali possibility at the moment, my initial thought on it was Nepali due to the grip. Blade looked a bit Ban-like, and the scabbard & dragons could be from anywhere (kothimora). The chape area looks a bit odd...


It does remind me of my Nepali version:

[JBG163]

It seems you have a Taotie depicted on the upper part of the scabbard.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taotie

The guard seems an unusual feature for Bhutanese weapons

I would rather say a vintage or touristic knife.
For the origine .... Difficult to say. You pointed out some nepali features. Taotie are depicted in Nepal, Tibet and China. Coral and turquoise mostly used in Tibet/Nepal.
We can probably narrow to Nepal/Tibet

[Ren Ren]

Originally Posted by JBG163

It seems you have a Taotie depicted on the upper part of the scabbard.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taotie

In India and Nepal has a similar mythical character "kirtimukha".

[JBG163]

So Nepal should be a good target.
Nonetheless, quite late 20th in my opinion

[kronckew]

Figure is more like a MARA, a Buddhist demon associated with death, rebirth and desire. Or Mahakala, one of the many forms of Shiva from Nepal, and also a Buddhist demon. I have a Nepali Doctor friend, a Buddhist, and I have been advised it is not a Taotie, and is probably from possibly as early as the 1920's, and not younger than 1950.


I'll of course post better photos when it arrives.


Painting of a Mara, And a statue of Mahakala:

[JBG163]

Will be easier with better picture for sure

[kronckew]

Another candidate demon...Rahu: Head of Demon Snake.


Nepali Antique Gurkha weapons display. Love the two hanshee/lambenh khukuri too!

[kronckew]

The khukri above remind me of my Hanshee & Salyani khuks.

[kronckew]

Sword arrived today, pics follow, sword weighs 546 grams, light, well balanced razor sharp. so is the slight clip at the tip. Grip is bone, scabbard is copper in the centre section, brass in the end sections, weighs 605 grams. vertical 'feature at the tip is a socket for a missing stone.
Scabbard seems to have 4 opalescent stones, possibly smokey quartz or may be even opal., turquise/carnelian/red coral etc.


Demon near the top, and another horned demon profile in the centre, and another near the bottom with a long tail with a pointy fin at the end. I;ll let y'all decide which is which. I think it's Mara

[kronckew]

More: back of scabbard is rather rough braized seams.

[kronckew]

The grip is 4 1/2 in. long, bone, tang is peened at the end. very sharp Blade is 21 in. long, 1.5 in. wide at the grip, 1 1/4 wide at the tip, 3/16 in. thick at the grip, slight distal taper to 1/8 in. at the tip. Blade has a slight hollow in the centre both sides, slightly raised edge and spine, which is flat. Balance is about 6.5 in. in front of the guard. all together 1151 grams (2.5 lb.) in the scabbard.

[kronckew]

Discussing this with a friend, He pointed out that it is possible this blade has been shortened as the scabbard also, to accomodate it. Some pics of the scabbard end:

[Oliver Pinchot]

Looks like tourist work

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

Looks like tourist work

No, that's an uninformed opinion, especially if you do not add any confirming evidence. The stones are real, the repoussé work is real & high status. The tourist makers never use real stones & their artwork is normally low class. I have a neighbour who is a dealer in Southeast asian art who has confirmed the sword is a real user, possibly shortened after breaking the tip. The repair work is of lesser workmanship, probably by a more local village Kami.

[Rick]

I guess, but why shorten the scabbard if only the blade tip broke.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Rick

I guess, but why shorten the scabbard if only the blade tip broke.

Maybe whatever broke the blade also broke the scabbard it was in? Bullet? Grape shot? Stepped on by over by a elephant? A blue whale?

If the missing bit was significantly longer, the owner may have wanted to lessen the weight, as well as the embarrassment of drawing a short sword from a long scabbard.


But, in the end,

[JBG163]

Its removed but at least you saw it

[kronckew]

The grip on mine is the original style. Please note that discussion to items on active actions is prohibited and the mods may delete it.

It does confirm my earlier supposition that the sword is Tibetan, (and not shortened) somewhere nearby, Sikkim, eastern Nepal maybe, look very much like a Ban sword for its shape, wonder if it's from Lhadak..? The style is like a Lepcha ban, same shape, same size, just different, maybe for some ceremonial practice, festivals, etc…or maybe just a nobleman's status piece that remains a useful weapon justincase.