Tulwar - oldish?

[Emanuel]

Added a new tulwar to the arsenal. 33" overall, the blade has the eyelash mark. I seem to recall a few tulwars in the past with the eyelash and gear combination.
The zigzag mark looks a bit like a stylized "wolf of Passau".

I find the handle very interesting. The silver decoration is not inlay but seems to be niello. The surface of the handle was scored and overlaid with a black material into which the silver was applied. Was this the usual way of applying overlay?

Emanuel

[G. McCormack]

Looks more like typical koftgari- score the steel, press in the the silver enough to create a mechanical lock, then paint on your special resin/something mixture and polish down. Brings out the contrast. Oppi Untracht details this method in his metal techniques of craftsman book.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Emanuel,
Could the decoration be made in Bidri work?
Jens

[Emanuel]

Good suggestion Jens, I was not aware of this technique. The silver is indeed laid into the black material, not directly on the hilt surface.
Here are some examples of Bidriware.

Emanuel

[Ferguson]

I learn something new here every day. Thank you gentlemen!
Steve

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidriware

[Enibas]

Hello Guys,

this is a very interesting post.

Here's picture of an intact Tulwar hilt with bidri ware. Same decorations like Emanuel's. Blade has also same "eyelash"-mark, but also some cartridges. Maybe sanskrit? I don't know. I am a greenhorn with indian edged weapons.

The last finish for bidri ware is made with a special paste after the inlays are made. It makes the bidri ware smooth and black without harming the inlays. The paste contents a secret substance (acid), which is gained only on side (Bidar).True ?

You can find kinds of informations on homepages of dealers from modern bidri ware.

Hilt is not complete cleaned yet. There are no blemishes.

kind regards
and still a merry chrismas
Enibas

Sorry for bad english