As per Stone's Glossary, it is a Pulwar.
As per Elgood's Glossary ( see his book on Indian weapons), and Oliver Pinchot's book Weapons of the Paladins, Pulwar is a mis-transcribed Tulwar, so it is a figment of European imagination:-)
As per info from my informants from the Western Pakistan ( Pakhtunkhwa, populated by ethnic Afghanis), nobody there knows the word Pulwar: for them it is a Shamshir.
Sometimes, words and names acquire their own life: we make "Xerox copies" using HP, Brother and Canon copiers:-)
In this particular case, the word Pulwar will convey maximum information for a Westerner, despite a very dubious connection with the true native tradition.
So, gentlemen, as barmen say, choose your poison:-)
If we want quick and easy lingo, it is, undoubtedly, a Pulwar.
If we are writing a catalog description for a major museum, it may be something like " an Afghani saber with a Persian shamshir blade and a handle stemming from old Deccani examples" This should be followed by a 5-page long dissertation citing multiple references and reconciling conflicting opinions
Ain't life a bitch?
:-)
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