Tulwar Hilt Kukri? Info Please.
 

This arrived yesterday. Tulwar style hilt, very solid, the blade is 17 inches, and the spine is thinner than most kukri - about 1/4 inch. I need to go back through some of my books, but is their a specific name for this style?

Also, the characters on the blade are the most interesting feature to this little "sword". I see what appears to be Naga serpents and two depictions of Hanuman?, side by side - what's up with that? And on the other side a god or king (Vishnu maybe?) with people bringing gifts? I don't know this stuff, but it looks to be telling an interesting story, can someone put it together?

Thanks,
-d

I was told this may have been produced by Francis Bannerman Company for British officers serving in India.

Can anyone shed light on the "story" its telling on the blade?

thanks,
-d

Hi Derek,

I don't know about the FB Company and the British officers, but I wouldn't be surprised.
Do you have better pictures? Where do you see a Naga?
Very, very vaguely I seem to remember that there is a story about someone with a fishtail, but I will have to try and find something about it. Yes the two on the lower pictures seem to be Hanuman’s, and on the other side it is a king, but it could be anything from Vishnu to a king from the history of India. I think the ‘history’ shown on the two lower pictures may be easier to find.
Come to think of it, you will have to find out what the two Hanuman's have in their hands, as this can help telling us in which form they are - and maybe make it easier.

Hi Jens,

I posted them again with some arrows and labels, but I don't know if it will help much.

The Story
 

A semi educated guess .
This blade may show elements from the Ramayana portraying the rescue of Sita by Hanuman and his monkey army .
Some links :

http://www.sanatansociety.org/indian...of_hanuman.htm

There better pix Derek!

I think fork tail equals fishes or mermaids rather than Naga.

Other than that afraid I cant help.

Any Brahamins in the house?

Spiral

One side of the blade may represent Hanuman giving Sita Rama's signet ring in the forest garden of Ravana's castle .

The other side may represent the marriage of Sita to Rama ; the fish tailed women may represent the companionship of Women in its perfection . There is a goddess in Hindu mythology that is fish tailed .

Rick
< Not a brahmin but a googler :D >

The ladies may be gopis that are depicted with fish tails as Vishnu assumed his first avatar as a fish, apparelently to save Manu the lawgiver, whom Hindus consider the first human, from the flood and to take back the Vedas, which had been stolen from Brahma and carried to the depths of the flood waters, and there is all that swimming in milk stuff, not to mention the sex :o They are just babes in the hot tub. :D Tim PS law and the image of weapons go back a long way.

Hi Derek,

As I remeber it, Rick is probably close, but I am not quite sure - I am too 'rusty' on this, but I will try looking.

Jens