Shamshir or pulvar?

ariel · 19th March 2015, 10:23 AM

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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19th March 2015, 10:23 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	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? :-)