Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

ariel · 23rd May 2018, 01:27 AM

New arrival: tulwar with absolutely crappy short (-ened?) blade made out of soft and rusty iron. The edge has more rolls than Africa has tse-tse flies. Out of curiosity I polished and etched a section: no pattern at all. It is poorly secured in the handle with some tar ( not the traditional mastique). Summary: junk.
But the handle is something else: it had spots of black tarnish that was easily removed with a silver cleaner, Completely intact, with several small and superficial scars. The ends of langets are decorated and there are decorative " rings" at the upper and lower borders of the grip. .
I took it to the jeweller: it is solid silver 98% purity.

Would like to pick your brains:
I have never seen a solid silver tulwar handle. Have you?
I guess it is North India. Mughals? Rajputs?
Any guesses about its age?

23rd May 2018, 01:27 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Tulwar: solid silver handle. New arrival: tulwar with absolutely crappy short (-ened?) blade made out of soft and rusty iron. The edge has more rolls than Africa has tse-tse flies. Out of curiosity I polished and etched a section: no pattern at all. It is poorly secured in the handle with some tar ( not the traditional mastique). Summary: junk. But the handle is something else: it had spots of black tarnish that was easily removed with a silver cleaner, Completely intact, with several small and superficial scars. The ends of langets are decorated and there are decorative " rings" at the upper and lower borders of the grip. . I took it to the jeweller: it is solid silver 98% purity. Would like to pick your brains: I have never seen a solid silver tulwar handle. Have you? I guess it is North India. Mughals? Rajputs? Any guesses about its age? Attached Images