Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 2nd November 2008, 02:45 AM

This extremely short, heavy bladed sword with old Indian khanda type hilt, is tempting to consider that if ever there were an Indian maritime cutlass, this would be what it would look like. By general appearance it seems that this may likely be a North India Hindu weapon , and while it attempts to classify as the broad, heavy bladed tegha associated with these groups...the tegha has a back curved blade, as do the Islamic sosun pattahs which feature the T section back edge.

The blade has interesting appearance of watering, and the marking is a clear native interpretation of the so called sickle mark that is almost consistantly placed on the blades of paluoars of Afghanistan in this same blade location. It is a somewhat debased version as the dots are inconsistant on the half circles. The stepped choil at the end of the blade reminiscent of the 'Indian ricasso' seems to correspond to many 18th-early 19th century tulwar blades.
The T spine is most unusual, on this type of blade which is like a broad, short tulwar blade, but is quite typical on the edged weapons of Afghanistan such as the choora and Khyber knife (which is actually a heavy short sword).

I would think this heavy short sword has some very interesting possibilities, with the Maratha Hindu style hilt, and the fact that the Marathas were actively involved in European trade which appears to have included some naval activity. This suggests this unusual short sword may actually be maritime, but as far as I know, no maritime cutlass from India has ever been proven specifically, only presumed.

It is noted that the Maratha Raja Sivaji had a favored sword, which was said to be 'Genoan'. The 'sickle' type marking previously described is generally held as originally of Genoan origin (though widely copied). Apparantly Sivaji had a naval commander, Angria (P.Rawson "The Indian Sword", 1968, p.45), which indicates of course the Marathas did have naval forces.

Though the Marathas favored European blades, straight and usually broadsword, and were apparantly not fond of curved blades (Rawson, op.cit. p.45)...this short, slightly curved heavy sword of almost cutlass type might have been ideal for naval use.

This is of course strictly speculation, and I think worthy of further research in this interesting example.

All best regards,
Jim

P.S. Dussacks were often used as naval weapons, and often fell into the 'cutlass' classification.

2nd November 2008, 02:45 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	This extremely short, heavy bladed sword with old Indian khanda type hilt, is tempting to consider that if ever there were an Indian maritime cutlass, this would be what it would look like. By general appearance it seems that this may likely be a North India Hindu weapon , and while it attempts to classify as the broad, heavy bladed tegha associated with these groups...the tegha has a back curved blade, as do the Islamic sosun pattahs which feature the T section back edge. The blade has interesting appearance of watering, and the marking is a clear native interpretation of the so called sickle mark that is almost consistantly placed on the blades of paluoars of Afghanistan in this same blade location. It is a somewhat debased version as the dots are inconsistant on the half circles. The stepped choil at the end of the blade reminiscent of the 'Indian ricasso' seems to correspond to many 18th-early 19th century tulwar blades. The T spine is most unusual, on this type of blade which is like a broad, short tulwar blade, but is quite typical on the edged weapons of Afghanistan such as the choora and Khyber knife (which is actually a heavy short sword). I would think this heavy short sword has some very interesting possibilities, with the Maratha Hindu style hilt, and the fact that the Marathas were actively involved in European trade which appears to have included some naval activity. This suggests this unusual short sword may actually be maritime, but as far as I know, no maritime cutlass from India has ever been proven specifically, only presumed. It is noted that the Maratha Raja Sivaji had a favored sword, which was said to be 'Genoan'. The 'sickle' type marking previously described is generally held as originally of Genoan origin (though widely copied). Apparantly Sivaji had a naval commander, Angria (P.Rawson "The Indian Sword", 1968, p.45), which indicates of course the Marathas did have naval forces. Though the Marathas favored European blades, straight and usually broadsword, and were apparantly not fond of curved blades (Rawson, op.cit. p.45)...this short, slightly curved heavy sword of almost cutlass type might have been ideal for naval use. This is of course strictly speculation, and I think worthy of further research in this interesting example. All best regards, Jim P.S. Dussacks were often used as naval weapons, and often fell into the 'cutlass' classification. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 2nd November 2008 at 02:55 AM.