Attribution of Indian (?) handle: Hyderabad?

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by ariel

These very peculiar handles pop up from time to time, even on this Forum.
Invariably, they are attributed to Hyderabad ( Sindh, not Deccan). Even our local gurus, Oliver and Ward, attributed them as such.
I have no reason to disbelieve them, but wonder whether there is a particular source with more "official " attribution: book, museum etc.
Can you help me out?

There is a good book by the famous collector Shamshirs from Russia: Kamil Haidakov (Камил Хайдаков), Shamshirs: Old Sabres and the Secrets of Ancient Sword Making, Moscow, 2013.

I recommend to read this book. In his opinion, such a handles were the Arab Shamshirs.

[mariusgmioc]

Hello Ariel,

I always thought this type of hilts are coming from the Arab countries. Even more so when decorated with the rather typical Yemeni filigree.

But, I am by no means a specialist in this field.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Hello Ariel,

I always thought this type of hilts are coming from the Arab countries. Even more so when decorated with the rather typical Yemeni filigree.

But, I am by no means a specialist in this field.

I agree but if you look at the litterature, the best specialists say always Indo Arab, Arabo Indian, Yemen/Hyderabad... So in fact nobody knows...

[ariel]

Originally Posted by Kubur

I agree but if you look at the litterature, the best specialists say always Indo Arab, Arabo Indian, Yemen/Hyderabad... So in fact nobody knows...

What a defeatist position!:-)

Sindh was always influenced by Arabian culture: Arab mercenaries served there, Arab traders were there, to the point that Oman until recently owned a part of neighboring Balochistan.

I can surely see Arabian decorative motives, but am unaware of a similar handle in any "Aravia proper" localities. To be blunt, IMHO, this is NOT an Arabian handle: this is a shamshir-type one with traceable South Arabian influences. The Sindhian origin is very probable.

I am looking for any documented evidence of its Sindh/Hyderabad attribution

The closest one I found was here:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17982

[mariusgmioc]

Very interesting and educative!

Thank you!

[A.alnakkas]

I do think the Baluch attribution is by far the most convincing one. Some heirlooms in Oman (cant post photos) in similar style are belonging to Baluchis.

Note that the example posted in the first post has the similar twisted wire style found in Omani shamshirs.

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

I do think the Baluch attribution is by far the most convincing one. Some heirlooms in Oman (cant post photos) in similar style are belonging to Baluchis.

Note that the example posted in the first post has the similar twisted wire style found in Omani shamshirs.

Baluch in Oman, and Baloch in Sindh, it seems to me - two big differences ...

I'll be glad to see photos of Baluchis with such Shamshir in Sindh.