Talwar blade decorated with animal battles

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by dana_w

...
Would anyone care to hazard a guess on its age? Has anyone seen something similar, and if so where?

This is undoubtedly an Indian tulwar with hand chiseled blade. Sometimes it is called "hunting" because it shows hunting scenes. You're right, the hilt is decorated in coftgari. The similar sword you can see here:
Link to similar
I'd like to add that the quality of your sword is quite good, and it shows genuine signs of age. These swords were produced starting from 19th Century and I believe yours is a genuine 19th Century sword.

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by ALEX

This is undoubtedly an Indian tulwar with hand chiseled blade. Sometimes it is called "hunting" because it shows hunting scenes. You're right, the hilt is decorated in coftgari. The similar sword you can see here:
Link to similar
I'd like to add that the quality of your sword is quite good, and it shows genuine signs of age. These swords were produced starting from 19th Century and I believe yours is a genuine 19th Century sword.

Thanks so much Alex. I'm off to check out the link.

[paolo]

Here is the Stone's page that describes Your shamshir ( there is also a black and white figure not too good ).
Paolo

[Jens Nordlunde]

Yes Alex is right they were made for the durbars in the 19th century.
The attached picture, which is not too good, is from the catalogue The Marlborough House, showing pictures of the presents prince Edward got when he wisited India in 1875. It is no 275.
Paolo, although I know that Stone used the term Shamshir blade in his description, I would be careful using the term. This is a chiselled tulwar blade. A shamshir blade is more curved
Jens

[ALEX]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

....
Paolo, although I know that Stone used the term Shamshir blade in his description, I would be careful using the term. This is a chiselled tulwar blade. A shamshir blade is more curved
Jens

Good comments, Jens. Please allow me to come to Paolo's rescue, and also Stone's
There are known Persian (or Indo-Persian) chiseled shamshirs. One of them can be seen
Here
Although this blade is also Indian, the Persian shamshirs can be chiselled and quite non-curved. Better indication would be profile/overall form, presence of ricasso, etc. But again, these hunting blades are Indian, I was just being difficult