Indo Persian "Cobra" Sword

Tatyana Dianova · 16th May 2007, 09:16 PM

This one had ended on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120113103430&ssPageNam e=ADME:B:EF

E:2
This sword is quite rare and decorative. Your opinion please: is it only ceremonial (or maybe touristic) or a real thing?

Lew · 16th May 2007, 10:04 PM

IT'S THE REAL THING AND VERY RARE.

LEW

katana · 17th May 2007, 12:36 AM

Very nice......I wonder how it would 'handle'.....would the widened blade near the hilt badly affect the balance? or enhance it?

Jens Nordlunde · 17th May 2007, 01:25 PM

This ’Cobra’ sword is, like you write, very rare, but it is not from NW India/Afghanistan, it is from Deccan. The Afghan influence on the hilt could be from the times, when Afghans ruled in Bengal and a one or two other states to the south. As a type, this sword goes back about four hundred years, maybe even longer.

Here is a picture of another one from an exhibition catalogue.

Jim McDougall · 19th May 2007, 03:01 PM

I agree with Jens, this example reflects of course the familiar paluoar form hilt of Afghanistan, however actually reflects influences of early Persian type hilts. The interesting decorative cowl that covers the upper blade to the hilt is similar to an example of Tibetan sword shown (if memory serves) in Donald LaRocca's "Gods of War" and probably appears in his new book on the weapons of Tibet. As Jens has pointed out, the weapons of the Deccan often carried features found in Bengal regions, where influences from Nepal and Tibet are also often found.

Best regards,
Jm

ALEX · 21st May 2007, 07:35 AM

Very nice authentic sword indeed, and in complete and nice condition. Congrats to a buyer!!!
I have one question: the seller stated the following about the blade: "...the NON-damascus (typical for these) blade...".
How typical is it for these swords to be made of non-Damascus steel, and what would be a reason for not using Damascus? The very design of the blade suggests Damascus, isn't it? Have anyone seen Damascus or wootz Cobra sword?

Jens Nordlunde · 21st May 2007, 09:03 AM

I don’t know why the seller wrote, that it is typical for these blades not to have a watered blade. The one I showed has a nicely watered blade.

dralin23 · 28th May 2007, 10:12 AM

hi alex!
thank you for your gratulation , it is realy an very good sword, and i´m happy that i´m the winner from these auction!!! if is an fine thing that i found some more informations to these sword at these sword forum!! (tatjana thank you!!) unfortunatly is my picture program out of order, when i can "repair" it, i send some more pictures from my sword collection to ask you and i hope you will tell me your opinions to these swords!
best wishes send you stefan

Tatyana Dianova · 29th May 2007, 06:50 PM

Hi

and welcome to the Forum!!!

16th May 2007, 09:16 PM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 678	Indo Persian "Cobra" Sword This one had ended on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120113103430&ssPageNam e=ADME:B:EFE:2 This sword is quite rare and decorative. Your opinion please: is it only ceremonial (or maybe touristic) or a real thing?

17th May 2007, 01:25 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	This ’Cobra’ sword is, like you write, very rare, but it is not from NW India/Afghanistan, it is from Deccan. The Afghan influence on the hilt could be from the times, when Afghans ruled in Bengal and a one or two other states to the south. As a type, this sword goes back about four hundred years, maybe even longer. Here is a picture of another one from an exhibition catalogue. Attached Images

16th May 2007, 10:04 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	IT'S THE REAL THING AND VERY RARE. LEW

17th May 2007, 12:36 AM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Very nice......I wonder how it would 'handle'.....would the widened blade near the hilt badly affect the balance? or enhance it?

19th May 2007, 03:01 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,800	I agree with Jens, this example reflects of course the familiar paluoar form hilt of Afghanistan, however actually reflects influences of early Persian type hilts. The interesting decorative cowl that covers the upper blade to the hilt is similar to an example of Tibetan sword shown (if memory serves) in Donald LaRocca's "Gods of War" and probably appears in his new book on the weapons of Tibet. As Jens has pointed out, the weapons of the Deccan often carried features found in Bengal regions, where influences from Nepal and Tibet are also often found. Best regards, Jm

21st May 2007, 07:35 AM	#6
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Very nice authentic sword indeed, and in complete and nice condition. Congrats to a buyer!!! I have one question: the seller stated the following about the blade: "...the NON-damascus (typical for these) blade...". How typical is it for these swords to be made of non-Damascus steel, and what would be a reason for not using Damascus? The very design of the blade suggests Damascus, isn't it? Have anyone seen Damascus or wootz Cobra sword?

21st May 2007, 09:03 AM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	I don’t know why the seller wrote, that it is typical for these blades not to have a watered blade. The one I showed has a nicely watered blade.

28th May 2007, 10:12 AM	#8
dralin23 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 194	hi alex! thank you for your gratulation , it is realy an very good sword, and i´m happy that i´m the winner from these auction!!! if is an fine thing that i found some more informations to these sword at these sword forum!! (tatjana thank you!!) unfortunatly is my picture program out of order, when i can "repair" it, i send some more pictures from my sword collection to ask you and i hope you will tell me your opinions to these swords! best wishes send you stefan

29th May 2007, 06:50 PM	#9
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 678	Hi and welcome to the Forum!!!