[Jim McDougall]

The origin of the term or its association to that of the tulwar is best left to the linguists, but according to Rawson (p.86), the tulwar term is derived from the Persian 'pouluar' and is a term used in Islamic tonques in the northwest for 'sword'.

This reference to Islamic tongues may include the Urdu language which is I believe combined Hindi and Persian. Some references say the tulwar term is Urdu or Panjabi.

Collectors have apparantly often considered the paluoar to have derived from 'revival' swords, which is a loosely applied reference in this case to the Qajar weapons used in the Shi'a 'Passion Plays' which portray the martyrdom of Ali. These swords, with downward drooping quillons are said to allude to the early Arab swords in use at that time, and are based on the Sacred Swords held in Topkapi in Istanbul. Many of these swords were remounted in the Turkic fashion in 16th century using the serpent motif on drooping quillons. These style quillons (as seen on the paluoar) are reminiscent of early Seljuq Turk hilts of 12-13th c. but seen as early as the 9th .

The Qajar revival swords are stated of mid 19th century, but appeared probably quite early as the dynasty began in 1796. I am not convinced that the paluoar is an interpretation of these 'Qajar Revival' swords as it would seem examples of some palouar are earlier in the 18th century, however more research on the influence of the earlier Persian swords such as the Qama might reveal influence there.

The paluoars were typically quite elegant sabres for elite and high station individuals, but later became popularly produced in numbers for general use in the mid 19th century. The style seems to have fallen out of favor later in the century.