Pulwar sword with engraved blade

[ALEX]

I agree the blade is etched.
For comparison, here is another tulwar with chiseled script. The script is similar to "aṣḥab al kahf "(seven sleepers) inscription common on Islamic metalworks, such as Safavid bowl pictured below.
To note, the script was added later in life of this tulwar as evidenced by the "lashes" mark visible underneath it, but not recently.

[ariel]

Yup, etched. Close-ups were useful. And I still think it was a recent job ( sorry Alex:-) : the decoration is crude, graceless and devoid of any compositional elegance characteristic of a job imbued with tradition and reverence, as seen on Alex's examples.
As to " why do it?", the answer is simple: decorated sword can be sold for more money.

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by ariel

And I still think it was a recent job...

Ariel, if you is not difficult, show please an example of the a similar a recent job on the blade.

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by ariel

Yup, etched. Close-ups were useful. And I still think it was a recent job ( sorry Alex:-)...

Ariel, you're right. And I am sorry, I was referring to my tulwar with early chiseling, was not clear enough and appeared as I referred to the one with etched script. My tulwar has eyelashes mark cartouche, and the script is running over it, evidently added after the original mark. You're right it shows classical early flow and style that is missing in later attempts, especially late etchings. Although I saw one very late brass plate with superb miniature etching (will post later) so it is not uncommon.