An Afghan/North Indian Pulouar

[Tatyana Dianova]

I’ve got this nice Pulouar from one of the Forum community members. It is quite interesting sword. It has long, thick and heavy Wootz blade, which is differentially hardened (please notice the dark area on the picture). The upper part of the blade with inscriptions (closer to the handle) is forged from the plain steel. The handle seems to be added later to the blade, because part of the inscriptions is hidden by the cross guard. I would like to hear the comments about age and origin of the sword, also help with the Arabic (Farsi?) inscriptions will be much appreciated.

[Battara]

Actually it looks like the whole blade is wootz - just needs a little polish and etching.

Very nice piece. I'll wait for the others.

[Tatyana Dianova]

Well, it was polished already with 600 and 1000 grid sanding paper, and I do not want to polish it more. Otherwise too much steel should be removed because of the shallow pitting. I have etched the blade several times at home (it was a very difficult piece), that's why I am 100% sure, that the steel near the handle is not Wootz, and that it is differentially hardened :)

[ALEX]

I tend to agree with Battara. It is possible that the heat/fire was used while removing/replacing the hilt, resulting in wootz pattern loss or modification (especially if non-wootz area appears close to the hilt). Moreover, in welded blades the joining point would be closer to the center of the blade (is it correct?).
Also, are there any blades which are edge-hardened and welded at the same time? I've heard of one or another, but never of both.
Interesting and nice sword. Both blade and hilt look like of Indian origin to me.
Would be interesting to hear from subject matter experts like Rick, Ariel and others.

[tom hyle]

I've seen welds in the center and at the blade base. European blades often (not always by any means) have a weld in the tang.