Nepalese Tulwar-hilted Kukri or ???

[DaveA]

Hello All,

I won this weapon at auction yesterday. It was advertised as a "Sussun Pata Khanda" but I think it is not. The shape nearly matches the Nepalese Kukri with a Tulwar hilt discussed in this thread from 2009. Decoration is nearly completely lacking. I draw your attention to the spine which is T-shaped as one finds on weapons such as the Khyber Salawar. It seems like it could be a hybrid from the India northwestern frontier.

I do not yet have the weapon in hand so there is not much more I can tell you. The overall length is reported as 23 inches. The provenance is listed only as "New York City Estate."

What is your opinion on type(s), origin and possible age?

- Dave A

[RobT]

DaveA,

I have read that this type of hilt is called an Indo/Moslem basket (as opposed to the Hindu basket hilts commonly found on firangi). I think these hilts are rather uncommon. Aside from photos, the example I have (from eBay 2005) is the only one I have ever seen. The seller said that he found the piece in an abandoned house in Georgia which was in an area slated to turned into a man made lake. The blade (very badly pitted) that came with my hilt is only 21.25” (53.975 cm) long and, since it was completely loose in the hilt when I got it, I can’t be totally sure that it is original to the piece. The straight blade has a 4.25” (10.795 cm) false edge and one broad and very shallow fuller which fades out at the foible where the false edge begins and also fades out at the base of the blade. The tang is the same as what would be found on a typical tulwar blade. That the fuller doesn’t run off the blade on either end indicates that it hasn’t been shortened. As it is with both yours and mine, all of the pictures of blades that I have seen with this type of hilt, have been short.

Sincerely,
RobT

[DaveA]

Thanks Rob. I am sure glad that your blade was rescued before the lake flooded it. The Georgia reference will send me to my reference books. I have become very interested in the Caucasus since it represents one of the great geographical points where nations clashed. Interesting weapons often arise in such places.

Do you have any picture you can share?

My hilt resembles a khanda, but the protrusion above is too short to offer a second grip like a khanda.

Dave A

Originally Posted by RobT

DaveA,

I have read that this type of hilt is called an Indo/Moslem basket (as opposed to the Hindu basket hilts commonly found on firangi). I think these hilts are rather uncommon. Aside from photos, the example I have (from eBay 2005) is the only one I have ever seen. The seller said that he found the piece in an abandoned house in Georgia which was in an area slated to turned into a man made lake. The blade (very badly pitted) that came with my hilt is only 21.25” (53.975 cm) long and, since it was completely loose in the hilt when I got it, I can’t be totally sure that it is original to the piece. The straight blade has a 4.25” (10.795 cm) false edge and one broad and very shallow fuller which fades out at the foible where the false edge begins and also fades out at the base of the blade. The tang is the same as what would be found on a typical tulwar blade. That the fuller doesn’t run off the blade on either end indicates that it hasn’t been shortened. As it is with both yours and mine, all of the pictures of blades that I have seen with this type of hilt, have been short.

Sincerely,
RobT