Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - The so-called " cobra swords"

ariel · 22nd November 2019, 09:56 PM

Marius,
You are absolutely correct: the blades are unmistakeably S. Indian.
This strengthens the argument that the handles were a later modification.
So, should we stop calling them Indo-Afghani?
Probably not: the modifications on many of them were of Afghani styles. By the same logic, Persian and purely Indian blades are in fact “( Something)- Afghani”, we just need to look separately on different components of a given sword.
I may show some swords that, in my estimation are purely Afghani based on both handle and blade.

Handles are simple: pulwar-like are unmistakeable.

Can we start describing features of a genuinely Afghani blade?

Let’s open the floodgates! Go on!

22nd November 2019, 09:56 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Marius, You are absolutely correct: the blades are unmistakeably S. Indian. This strengthens the argument that the handles were a later modification. So, should we stop calling them Indo-Afghani? Probably not: the modifications on many of them were of Afghani styles. By the same logic, Persian and purely Indian blades are in fact “( Something)- Afghani”, we just need to look separately on different components of a given sword. I may show some swords that, in my estimation are purely Afghani based on both handle and blade. Handles are simple: pulwar-like are unmistakeable. Can we start describing features of a genuinely Afghani blade? Let’s open the floodgates! Go on!