Tulwar scabbard

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Jens,
You're right, the red hue placed over gold does seem puzzling, but I have been told that Persians favored this and I wonder if it might have been to subdue the gold while carrying through the gleam, kind of a 'candy apple' effect. I recall many years ago in the custom car days that gold undercoat was often a primer to add the lustre to the 'candy apple red' so favored by car enthusiasts.

While the tulwar, especially with handguard, seemed atypical of the Afghans who favored the guardless shamshir, paluoar and even shashka, it may well be this was a captured weapon which was furbished especially for the warrior who owned it. If this was indeed a trophy weapon, it would not seem unlikely that the handguard was quite acceptable to the individual. While the style of swordsmanship for government forces of the Khan clearly leaned toward the British influences, as evidenced by the handguards on the previously discussed swords from the 1890's, it is interesting to note a warrior using this type tulwar with the 'drawcut' scabbard.

It is also interesting that such incongruent hybridization is seen as well on examples of these government handguards placed on huge blades of the well known 'Khyber knives'. I have forgotten who out there has one of these, but I think Rick will remember !

All the best,
Jim

[Pukka Bundook]

Well chaps,
I find all this very interesting, but don't have much constructive to add

So how do you think I should mount this up?........Conventional, or "Quick-draw!?
I will bow to whichever way you learned Gentlemen think best!

Jim,
You mention "Government hand-guards"
Is that what we have here?
If so, what date roughly?

Do either of you know how the iron furniture was finished originally?
I would not re-finish these mounts, but wondered what they may have looked like when new.

Thank you again for your time and patience!

R.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Richard,
By 'government ' hilts, I am referring to the Afghan swords pictured on the thread that Rick linked in his post March 16th. This tulwar actually is from northern India and has nothing to do with those swords or hilts, however does interestingly seem to have been scabbarded by an Afghan. The tulwar itself seem likely of mid 19th century, possibly into 1870's.

Since there is only the center mount, and it seems to be situated conventionally, I think I would follow suit. Even though this scabbard follows Afghan style, it does not seem unreasonable to assume the mounts were quite possibly in conformity to most other tulwar scabbards. Just my opinion
As for finish, just adhere to that of the existing mounts.

All the best,
Jim

[Pukka Bundook]

Well,
This is as far as I've got making the scabbard and top mount.

Attached are pictures;

1, of old mid-fitting on new wood.

2, The new top fitting, "aged"

and then ;

3, New fitting "in the white", plus old centre fitting.

4, new top fitting "in white"

5, old and new fitting in place.

Do you learned chaps think this is OK??

If so, just need to add a leather or fabric cover to the wood, and we'll be done....

Richard.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Very well done. I would like to see some pictures when you have the fabric on the scabbard. What kind of wood did you use for the scabbard?
Jens

[Pukka Bundook]

Hello Jens.
I do not remember what the wood was, I was given it and was led to understand it was from Australia.
Nice straight grain and rather hard.

Will add a picture when cover is added.
Pleased you like it so far.....

Richard.

[josh stout]

On the subject of red over gold, this was also quite popular in Tibet and China. So if the Persians also did it, it seems that it was universal if somewhat rare.

Here is an example of the remains of gold and red paint on some shuang jian.
Josh

http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...duation346.jpg