I really like swords in this 'untouched' condition, they're the real deal and haven't been worked over by 'industrious' sellers. In cleaning, stay conservative please! That patination in 'history incarnate' and deserves to stay on this old warrior....just some WD40 to remove any active rust etc.
What to call this is truly irrelevant.....though properly the 'firangi' term applies to a sword with a 'foreign' blade. The khanda term is simply a term for sword in general usually in southern to central regions, and is typically used for the 'Hindu basket hilt' but actually is for the old open hilt forms as well.
Tulwar usually refers to the familiar 'Indo-Persian' hilt swords of the north and central regions, but again is a term broadly used for any sword...not otherwise specified. There are Deccani and Scinde etc. types with 'shamshir' type hilts referred to as 'tulwar'. The so called Afghan 'paluoar' is actually a tulwar but considered an Afghan style, even though actually Deccani.
In the native cavalry units, even the regulation British military sabres are termed 'tulwar'.
The 'name game' is mostly counter productive, and it is better to rely on worded description which considers the elements of the sword and notes probable regions of origin or influences.
The rebated point blade on this sword is unusual, and may be a European blade but it is unknown whether SE or DE or if markings....fullering or forte unclear. The canted pommel spike usually suggests a stem in the hilt motif and these it seems may be a Rajput affectation. On khandas (basket hilts) these are often (longer) thought to be for a second hand hold, but here obviously the stem type representation more likely.
Extremely nice, good solid old warrior!
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