an intresting khanda

dralin23 · 27th November 2009, 07:06 PM

hi all,
i saw an intresting khanda at these probus auction last month.
yesterday i could see these sword with my own eyes. the blade is serated and the tip is from zulfikar shape. these blade is wears two long inscriptions. one at the forte and the othe nearby the tip. intresting is the wraping arround the spike. i don´t know what is the supose for these item. is it that you could better hold the spike than you will make an stroke in the fight ore is ti only for protect the spike. it is easy th remove from the spike.
who could tell me mor eover these sword??

Tatyana Dianova · 28th November 2009, 03:29 PM

Stefan, I believe it is a presentation or a display piece, but let's see what the specialists will say

ariel · 28th November 2009, 04:48 PM

M-m-m...
The quality is too good and the construction is not very ostentatious... I would guess it is a 'working" example. The wooden extension is likely to be later and improvised addition. I would discount its significance.
Khanda is usually considered to be a Hindu weapon. To see it with a purely Islamic Dhu-l'-faqar feature is puzzling. Surely, we all saw examples of Khandas with Mughal overtones, but the cloved tip is the most blatant proclamation of Islamic connection. The inscription may provide a clue. Certainly, it is not in Russian; otherwise both Tatiana and myself would be bragging about our linguistic usefulness to the Forum :-)

Atlantia · 28th November 2009, 05:31 PM

Interesting sword. My thought was for exhibitions at festivals or displays of some sort.
I've often wondered if the saw toothed Hindu weapons had any specific purpose or advantage? I notice that both of the 'fangs' are pierced, which night indicate hanging points for links and tassles and a possible display use? There is another hanging point on the guard.
The extension to the 'second' hand grip might be for facilitating twirling and exhibition?
Also, I cant see the fangs surviving a hard two handed swing against much in battle.

Regards
Gene

Looks like some numbering at the end of the inscription (although I'm taking some liberties, especially with making that glorified dot a zero.).

Emanuel · 28th November 2009, 06:10 PM

Here's another one, more flamboyant.

Valjhun had snatched a similar one about three years ago.

Jens Nordlunde · 28th November 2009, 09:33 PM

If the year is 1064, it is hardly VS - so why don't you say so?

27th November 2009, 07:06 PM	#1
dralin23 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 194	an intresting khanda hi all, i saw an intresting khanda at these probus auction last month. yesterday i could see these sword with my own eyes. the blade is serated and the tip is from zulfikar shape. these blade is wears two long inscriptions. one at the forte and the othe nearby the tip. intresting is the wraping arround the spike. i don´t know what is the supose for these item. is it that you could better hold the spike than you will make an stroke in the fight ore is ti only for protect the spike. it is easy th remove from the spike. who could tell me mor eover these sword?? Attached Images

28th November 2009, 05:31 PM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Interesting sword. My thought was for exhibitions at festivals or displays of some sort. I've often wondered if the saw toothed Hindu weapons had any specific purpose or advantage? I notice that both of the 'fangs' are pierced, which night indicate hanging points for links and tassles and a possible display use? There is another hanging point on the guard. The extension to the 'second' hand grip might be for facilitating twirling and exhibition? Also, I cant see the fangs surviving a hard two handed swing against much in battle. Regards Gene Looks like some numbering at the end of the inscription (although I'm taking some liberties, especially with making that glorified dot a zero.). Last edited by Atlantia; 28th November 2009 at 08:18 PM.

28th November 2009, 06:10 PM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Here's another one, more flamboyant. Valjhun had snatched a similar one about three years ago. Attached Images

28th November 2009, 03:29 PM	#2
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 735	Stefan, I believe it is a presentation or a display piece, but let's see what the specialists will say

28th November 2009, 04:48 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	M-m-m... The quality is too good and the construction is not very ostentatious... I would guess it is a 'working" example. The wooden extension is likely to be later and improvised addition. I would discount its significance. Khanda is usually considered to be a Hindu weapon. To see it with a purely Islamic Dhu-l'-faqar feature is puzzling. Surely, we all saw examples of Khandas with Mughal overtones, but the cloved tip is the most blatant proclamation of Islamic connection. The inscription may provide a clue. Certainly, it is not in Russian; otherwise both Tatiana and myself would be bragging about our linguistic usefulness to the Forum :-)

28th November 2009, 09:33 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	If the year is 1064, it is hardly VS - so why don't you say so?