Watering on a tulwar blade

Runjeet Singh · 24th March 2014, 10:41 AM

A rare sword as we know from reading the earlier input into this thread, and a thread I have followed and a sword I have admired since joining the forum in 2006.

Charles, you have done a great job in bring artisans together in order to conserve this important sword, and I was happy to have helped you bring it into your collection.

The blade is almost identical, it even has the same cartouche, the inscription on the yelman seems to be slightly different, so an accurate reading of yours Charles would clear that up.

The hilt is of the same slender form, but if what Jens refers to is accurate, (and I have no reason not to doubt it) then the style or decoration is dependant on the customers taste, so it would make complete sense that the decoration would be different!

Well done again Charles!

Regards,
Runjeet.

Jens Nordlunde · 24th March 2014, 05:49 PM

Congratulations Charles

this one is really nice.
Like Runjeet writes these blades are rare, really rare. In the more than forty years I have collected I have seen three of these blades.
The other one I saw long ago, but I still remember it quite well. The blade was the same but without fullers and without any gold inscriptions. The hilt was like yours, with a hand guard ending in a lotus bud, and also decorated in rather thin gold koftgari with flowers.
It is remarkeable how the inscriptions are alike, like made by the same man.
When it comes to the hilts, two men could have chosen the same blade, the same hilts and the same decorations, and a third one could have choosen quite another hilt - or the blade could have been rehilted.
Jens

Jens Nordlunde · 25th March 2014, 05:39 PM

Charles,
What are the proportions of your tulwar? Mine are.
Length: 79 cm
Length of blade: 67 cm
Ricasso: 5.2 cm
Hilt: 16 cm
Disc diameter: 6 cm
Width of quillons: 8.5 cm
Length of langet: 5.4 cm
All the best
Jens

Runjeet Singh · 25th March 2014, 06:27 PM

Comon Charles, answer Jens's question re the proportions - this remind me of long lost siblings being re-united!! Will there be a happy ending?!!

CharlesS · 31st March 2014, 03:12 PM

Dimensions for my example shown above:

Overall length(out of scabbard) 31in. / 78.74cm.
Length of blade: 27in. / 68.58cm.
Ricasso: 1 and 6/8 in. / 4.44cm.
Hilt length: 6 1/2 in. / 16.51cm.
Disc diameter: 2 1/2 in. / 6.35cm.
Length of quillons: 3in. / 7.62cm.
Length of langets: 2in. / 5.08cm.

With the exception of a very few centimeters owing largely to hilt differences they are virtually identical.

Jens Nordlunde · 31st March 2014, 06:26 PM

Thank you very much Charles, yes they are very close - quite interesting.
Depending of the blade type, the length was very important to them, the colour as well - is was all a kind of mantra.
Jens

PS. There was also something about the smell of the blade, which seems to have been important.

31st March 2014, 06:26 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Thank you very much Charles, yes they are very close - quite interesting. Depending of the blade type, the length was very important to them, the colour as well - is was all a kind of mantra. Jens PS. There was also something about the smell of the blade, which seems to have been important. Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 31st March 2014 at 08:29 PM.

24th March 2014, 10:41 AM	#1
Runjeet Singh Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warwickshire, England Posts: 150	A rare sword as we know from reading the earlier input into this thread, and a thread I have followed and a sword I have admired since joining the forum in 2006. Charles, you have done a great job in bring artisans together in order to conserve this important sword, and I was happy to have helped you bring it into your collection. The blade is almost identical, it even has the same cartouche, the inscription on the yelman seems to be slightly different, so an accurate reading of yours Charles would clear that up. The hilt is of the same slender form, but if what Jens refers to is accurate, (and I have no reason not to doubt it) then the style or decoration is dependant on the customers taste, so it would make complete sense that the decoration would be different! Well done again Charles! Regards, Runjeet.

24th March 2014, 05:49 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Congratulations Charles this one is really nice. Like Runjeet writes these blades are rare, really rare. In the more than forty years I have collected I have seen three of these blades. The other one I saw long ago, but I still remember it quite well. The blade was the same but without fullers and without any gold inscriptions. The hilt was like yours, with a hand guard ending in a lotus bud, and also decorated in rather thin gold koftgari with flowers. It is remarkeable how the inscriptions are alike, like made by the same man. When it comes to the hilts, two men could have chosen the same blade, the same hilts and the same decorations, and a third one could have choosen quite another hilt - or the blade could have been rehilted. Jens

25th March 2014, 05:39 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Charles, What are the proportions of your tulwar? Mine are. Length: 79 cm Length of blade: 67 cm Ricasso: 5.2 cm Hilt: 16 cm Disc diameter: 6 cm Width of quillons: 8.5 cm Length of langet: 5.4 cm All the best Jens

25th March 2014, 06:27 PM	#4
Runjeet Singh Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warwickshire, England Posts: 150	Comon Charles, answer Jens's question re the proportions - this remind me of long lost siblings being re-united!! Will there be a happy ending?!!

31st March 2014, 03:12 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Dimensions for my example shown above: Overall length(out of scabbard) 31in. / 78.74cm. Length of blade: 27in. / 68.58cm. Ricasso: 1 and 6/8 in. / 4.44cm. Hilt length: 6 1/2 in. / 16.51cm. Disc diameter: 2 1/2 in. / 6.35cm. Length of quillons: 3in. / 7.62cm. Length of langets: 2in. / 5.08cm. With the exception of a very few centimeters owing largely to hilt differences they are virtually identical.