Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Tulwar hilt and disc pommel.....the reason for their design

katana · 10th December 2006, 05:24 PM

Hi Jens,
perhaps the 'ricasso' on Tulwars and similar swords is not a 'ricasso' at all.
As the blade edge does not end at the hilt ....we would assume that it is a ricasso ...as a number of European swords have this feature for a functional reason. Could it be ...simply...that an edge so close to the hilt would have little advantage, as it was almost exclusively a 'slashing' weapon ?

Other 'simple' explainations could be that it allowed safe handling of the sword blade whilst it was being fixed (resin) to the hilt. Or as Jim suggested, made sharpening safer.

10th December 2006, 05:24 PM	#45
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Jens, perhaps the 'ricasso' on Tulwars and similar swords is not a 'ricasso' at all. As the blade edge does not end at the hilt ....we would assume that it is a ricasso ...as a number of European swords have this feature for a functional reason. Could it be ...simply...that an edge so close to the hilt would have little advantage, as it was almost exclusively a 'slashing' weapon ? Other 'simple' explainations could be that it allowed safe handling of the sword blade whilst it was being fixed (resin) to the hilt. Or as Jim suggested, made sharpening safer.