Firangi for comment

Jens Nordlunde · 9th February 2016, 04:09 PM

Interesting question Timo, and you should have had more attention when you asked it - sorry.

Sometimes the Indian copies of an European blade is so close that you cant be sure, it could be either European or Indian made. At other times it is a bit easier to see, like the way the fullers are made - not quite like the ones on European blades, or if the blades are stamped, the way the stamps have been made. A ricasso could mean an Indian made blade, but although the Europeans made a lot of blades for export to India, these will mostly be Indian blades, but not always.

Sometimes it is quite easy to say, but not always - especially not on photos.

iskender · 9th February 2016, 06:58 PM

to be or not to be is the question! as firangi in my understanding means outlander , every type of indian weapon with a foreign blade will be addressed as "firangi" . mostly (many) indian blades are arbitrated and polished ,you will never see the wootz-structure or a lamination visible! but for sure , a european export-blade will never be forged from wootz. what can give a hint on a blade whitout etching it , is the way the rustpittings eat into the iron.(many little holes in old rusty wootz blades). the relativ long sword of yours is used ,as i have read ,specially for gunners in the deccan. the age can range as stated by other members from the sixtheenth-century onwards.many of thes items are mutch older then the look ,it is the same as in the keris -buisness , very hard to say sometimes,the blades dont talk! hindu arms and ritual from robert elgood has good pictures and datings ! i have traveld through half india from arsenal to arsenal to get more knowledge ,i still have the feeling im a little ignorant boy! greetings iskender

9th February 2016, 06:58 PM	#2
iskender Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 60	Firangi ? Kirach? to be or not to be is the question! as firangi in my understanding means outlander , every type of indian weapon with a foreign blade will be addressed as "firangi" . mostly (many) indian blades are arbitrated and polished ,you will never see the wootz-structure or a lamination visible! but for sure , a european export-blade will never be forged from wootz. what can give a hint on a blade whitout etching it , is the way the rustpittings eat into the iron.(many little holes in old rusty wootz blades). the relativ long sword of yours is used ,as i have read ,specially for gunners in the deccan. the age can range as stated by other members from the sixtheenth-century onwards.many of thes items are mutch older then the look ,it is the same as in the keris -buisness , very hard to say sometimes,the blades dont talk! hindu arms and ritual from robert elgood has good pictures and datings ! i have traveld through half india from arsenal to arsenal to get more knowledge ,i still have the feeling im a little ignorant boy! greetings iskender

9th February 2016, 04:09 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Interesting question Timo, and you should have had more attention when you asked it - sorry. Sometimes the Indian copies of an European blade is so close that you cant be sure, it could be either European or Indian made. At other times it is a bit easier to see, like the way the fullers are made - not quite like the ones on European blades, or if the blades are stamped, the way the stamps have been made. A ricasso could mean an Indian made blade, but although the Europeans made a lot of blades for export to India, these will mostly be Indian blades, but not always. Sometimes it is quite easy to say, but not always - especially not on photos.