Tulwar hilts made of silver

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by olikara

The langet reminds me of the Shiite Alams carried during the Moharram processions in India. Have attached a picture of some alams from Hyderabad in the Deccan. But again, these flags/symbols (alams) were and are still used all over the subcontinent.

Excellent comparison Nidhi! and the Sh'ia influences in Mughal courts would seem likely to produce this subtly appointed silvered tulwar, but still wondering what symbolism may be represented in the balanced orb.
As has been noted, most tulwars seem to have similar langet shapes which may reflect architectural features, and some have the simple elongated and squared style, but as far as I know this one is a singular example.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Jim, yes it is - as far as I know. I have never seen a tulwar with such a laget ending before.

Enibas, there are other silver hilted tulwars, and some of the form a group, but I have yet to research this group, and it seems as if it could be difficult.

Jens

[ASingh]

Hi,
I have attached some images of two silver hilts on Indian swords.
The first is on a shamshere blade, and the hilt is carved out of solid silver. It ends with a lion's head with the tail of a cobra in its mouth. It has recently been gilded in the traditional 'mullamma' process in Benaras. I unfortunately don't have an image of the blade with me presently.
The second is a tulwar and seems to have a thick plating of silver on the iron hilt.
Thanks and best wishes,
ASingh