Tweezers on a sword scabbard

Iliad · 11th December 2012, 10:47 PM

Good morning/evening to all,
The entire membership of my fan club (both of you) will be pleased to see another posting from me. This time, pics of a sword with tweezers attached to the scabbard. I have not seen this before, but then I am a relative newcomer to collecting edged weapons. Such a thing may be commonplace. Someone will tell me if common or unusual. Also, note the thin leather strap to hold the sword in the scabbard; I have never seen this before.
Best to all,
Brian

Iliad · 11th December 2012, 10:50 PM

More Pics

Atlantia · 11th December 2012, 11:14 PM

Hi Brian,

There is certainly a precedent for tweezers and other additional tools with Kukri of course.
But I've never seen additional tools on the scabbard of a Tulwar.
However, the way it has been done does remind me of a Kukri sheath with their 'pockets' for the Karda, Chakmak and sometimes 'other things'.
I've looked at the pictures and while I'm not 100% that the tweezers are the original item, they certainly fit well, and are made to resemble a Kard/Pesh handle. So why not?
A personal grooming item for a well prepared Warrior?
Very interesting. I particularly like the form of the tweezers with the faux dagger hilt and sliding lock.
Any casual glance and it looks like a little knife, but it's actually for tweezing! lol, a very manly disguise for a little grooming item.
Excellent item and an interesting anomaly to add to our repertoire of knowledge.

Iliad · 12th December 2012, 01:32 AM

Thanks Atlantia, for the reply. Could the tweezers be used for extracting a musket ball from a wound?
Brian

Atlantia · 12th December 2012, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iliad

Thanks Atlantia, for the reply. Could the tweezers be used for extracting a musket ball from a wound?
Brian

Hi Brian

They could probobly fix a monobrow or help to shape a fabulous moustache!

Seriously though, a set of tweezers is a very useful little tool.
The fact that they lock might be a clue? (if they are not for personal grooming that is)

Presumably they have mis-shapen with time and when originally made the sliding lock could be moved down to 'lock' them shut, which would have possibly made them usable as a medical clamp?
I could be mistaken but they don't look like they'd be the right shape to insert into a bullet hole to grab a musket-ball, but they would possibly work to temporarily clamp off an artery or some other internal tubing if you'd been sliced open?

ATB
Gene

P.S. is that embroidered 'symbol' on the scabbard a word of character?
Might be a clue there?

VANDOO · 12th December 2012, 05:35 AM

A VERY INTERESTING SWORD I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE TWEEZERS ARE INCLUDED ON A SWORD FOR. SO I WILL MAKE SOMETHING UP JUST FOR FUN

ONE OF THE PUNISHMENTS IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD WAS TO PLUCK OUT A MAN'S BEARD, SO PERHAPS WHEN AN ENEMY WAS CAPTRED THEY WOULD HAVE A SUITABLE TOOL AT HAND. PLUCKING A FEW NOSE HAIRS WOULD ALSO BE A GOOD FORM OF INTERIGATION.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 12th December 2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iliad

Good morning/evening to all,
The entire membership of my fan club (both of you) will be pleased to see another posting from me. This time, pics of a sword with tweezers attached to the scabbard. I have not seen this before, but then I am a relative newcomer to collecting edged weapons. Such a thing may be commonplace. Someone will tell me if common or unusual. Also, note the thin leather strap to hold the sword in the scabbard; I have never seen this before.
Best to all,
Brian

Salaams Iliad ~ I can't believe it. They just cannot be tweezers. It has to be a weapon.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Atlantia · 12th December 2012, 12:54 PM

Not to mention useful for in the field stamp collecting!

Lew · 12th December 2012, 02:18 PM

The tweezers could be for removing splinters or thorns on himself or his horse. Many kukri come with tools and I have seen a few arm daggers that've have canvas sewing needles in them. Nice find

.

kahnjar1 · 12th December 2012, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Iliad ~ I can't believe it. They just cannot be tweezers. It has to be a weapon.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Why not?? The Khanjar/Jambiya have tools attached...........and in fact tweezers are often one of the items..............

spiral · 12th December 2012, 11:50 PM

Tweezers have many uses, but the nationalities that are fairly naked when it comes to body hair have a tendency to use tweezers to pluck any such offending hairs that appear out.

Weve all seen them with kukri, {Some provenenced examples Dating as early as C.1815}

And Ive also often seen them attachted to Pia Katta & even a katar on one occasian,

Spiral

eftihis · 13th December 2012, 02:48 PM

Hello,
I doubt that the twezzers have anything to do with personal grooming...
I think that have the same use as the twezzers on cretan knifes, that is to enable someone to pick a burning charcoal from the fire, and put it on his pipe or on the nargile to start smoking.

RDGAC · 13th December 2012, 03:02 PM

Afternoon Brian, handsome thing you have there! Happened to glance in and just thought I'd contribute re: the leather strap: while reading the late Richard Holmes' excellent Sahib, which (unsurprisingly) is all about the British Raj and its armies. He notes that, during the Mutiny, several British officers and soldiers observed the Indians using straps, or ribbons, to hold their swords in the scabbard, presumably because the scabbard was kept loose. They apparently weren't impressed by the British habit of having tight, metal scabbards that blunted their swords thanks to repeated drawing and sheathing.

He also quotes one bloke who felled an Indian, and remarked that he had opportunity to only because the Indian, a little distracted in the heat of battle, had forgotten about this small strap, and couldn't extract his tulwar from its scabbard, however hard he yanked. Fortunately for the author, he had no such encumbrances.

11th December 2012, 10:47 PM	#1
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Tweezers on a sword scabbard Good morning/evening to all, The entire membership of my fan club (both of you) will be pleased to see another posting from me. This time, pics of a sword with tweezers attached to the scabbard. I have not seen this before, but then I am a relative newcomer to collecting edged weapons. Such a thing may be commonplace. Someone will tell me if common or unusual. Also, note the thin leather strap to hold the sword in the scabbard; I have never seen this before. Best to all, Brian Attached Images

11th December 2012, 10:50 PM	#2
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	More Pics Attached Images

11th December 2012, 11:14 PM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Brian, There is certainly a precedent for tweezers and other additional tools with Kukri of course. But I've never seen additional tools on the scabbard of a Tulwar. However, the way it has been done does remind me of a Kukri sheath with their 'pockets' for the Karda, Chakmak and sometimes 'other things'. I've looked at the pictures and while I'm not 100% that the tweezers are the original item, they certainly fit well, and are made to resemble a Kard/Pesh handle. So why not? A personal grooming item for a well prepared Warrior? Very interesting. I particularly like the form of the tweezers with the faux dagger hilt and sliding lock. Any casual glance and it looks like a little knife, but it's actually for tweezing! lol, a very manly disguise for a little grooming item. Excellent item and an interesting anomaly to add to our repertoire of knowledge.

12th December 2012, 01:32 AM	#4
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Thanks Atlantia, for the reply. Could the tweezers be used for extracting a musket ball from a wound? Brian

12th December 2012, 05:35 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A VERY INTERESTING SWORD I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE TWEEZERS ARE INCLUDED ON A SWORD FOR. SO I WILL MAKE SOMETHING UP JUST FOR FUN ONE OF THE PUNISHMENTS IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD WAS TO PLUCK OUT A MAN'S BEARD, SO PERHAPS WHEN AN ENEMY WAS CAPTRED THEY WOULD HAVE A SUITABLE TOOL AT HAND. PLUCKING A FEW NOSE HAIRS WOULD ALSO BE A GOOD FORM OF INTERIGATION.

12th December 2012, 12:54 PM	#8
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Not to mention useful for in the field stamp collecting!

12th December 2012, 02:18 PM	#9
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	The tweezers could be for removing splinters or thorns on himself or his horse. Many kukri come with tools and I have seen a few arm daggers that've have canvas sewing needles in them. Nice find .

12th December 2012, 11:50 PM	#11
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Tweezers have many uses, but the nationalities that are fairly naked when it comes to body hair have a tendency to use tweezers to pluck any such offending hairs that appear out. Weve all seen them with kukri, {Some provenenced examples Dating as early as C.1815} And Ive also often seen them attachted to Pia Katta & even a katar on one occasian, Spiral

13th December 2012, 02:48 PM	#12
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 512	Hello, I doubt that the twezzers have anything to do with personal grooming... I think that have the same use as the twezzers on cretan knifes, that is to enable someone to pick a burning charcoal from the fire, and put it on his pipe or on the nargile to start smoking.

13th December 2012, 03:02 PM	#13
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Afternoon Brian, handsome thing you have there! Happened to glance in and just thought I'd contribute re: the leather strap: while reading the late Richard Holmes' excellent Sahib, which (unsurprisingly) is all about the British Raj and its armies. He notes that, during the Mutiny, several British officers and soldiers observed the Indians using straps, or ribbons, to hold their swords in the scabbard, presumably because the scabbard was kept loose. They apparently weren't impressed by the British habit of having tight, metal scabbards that blunted their swords thanks to repeated drawing and sheathing. He also quotes one bloke who felled an Indian, and remarked that he had opportunity to only because the Indian, a little distracted in the heat of battle, had forgotten about this small strap, and couldn't extract his tulwar from its scabbard, however hard he yanked. Fortunately for the author, he had no such encumbrances.