An unusual Nepalese sword for comments
 

Hi folks.
Some time ago I bought an unusual saber. The shape of the handle is associated with Nepal or North India. However, I have never met such a saber before. The blade is quite heavy and sharp. I can assume that the saber was made at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. What is your opinion about the saber?

I have lightend two of the pictures a bit.

Rare too see one of these, especially with a compete scabbard! :eek:

Looks like a good Nepali Tarwar, they still make them, tho less curved and usually with a khukuri type grip rather than the talwar style...Kind of a generic Himalayan dao. They're still popular in some quarters.

Thank you for your opinion.
I can assume that the old hilt was put on a later blade. The blade is quite simple, blades of this quality in Nepal are usually used not only as a weapon, but also as a utilitarian tool or weapon for slaughtering cattle.

Nepalis are in general, Hindu and do not sacrifice bovine cattle. They DO sacrifice and eat water buffalo and other non-divine species. They use khukuris, ramdao and kora. I've not heard of a tarwar being so used, but it's possible I guess.

The tradition is that the person chosen to conduct the sacrifice must behead the buffalo in one blow to ensure good luck and bountiful crops for the following year. If he does not, there will be bad luck for the year and he will be shunned until at least the next sacrifice. the khukuris used are generally larger and heavier than those used by Gurkhas in combat. I am not familiar with the slaughtering of buffalo in non-religious contexts tho. It's a low caste occupation relegated to the 'untouchables' or service castes.

Elgood mentions ritual beheading of a buffalo at weddings: groom’s responsibility. His friends did their best to fail him, to the point of inserting iron rods under the buffalo’s skin: a local version of comradely humor.

Also, there was a particularly strong historical figure who perfected the technique by performing an upward stroke: that was his claim to eternal fame.

Young noblemen trained on a wet clay block, till they had the power to behead an animal.