19th May 2017, 07:44 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 584
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
Ibrahiim, thank you for that link to that remarkable discussion in 2009 , which I think well describes these interesting marks which pervade so many blades in so many cultures over many centuries.
The markings on this blade are clearly interpretive, and added to this blade in the sense of imbuement of quality or strength. The triple dots are typically found on various Indian blades much earlier, and seem to be strategically placed, often regarded as perhaps related to the Trimurti and as talismanic or such application.
Miguel, this is a good, solid tulwar which I think is of the British Raj in India but post East India Co. which dissolved after the 'Mutiny' in 1857. In the years just after the dissolution, Queen Victoria became the "Empress of India" and her VR cypher had added an 'I', thus VRI.
There was no longer the East India Co. but there was an intermediate attempt to simulate a logo which represented the now controlling, East India government'.
It was a triangle with letters EIG at the points.
It is unclear how long or how prevalent this 'logo' was used, however some years later the stamps became I G with the arrow between (as seen in earlier BO, Board of Ordnance marks).
By years just before WWI, the letters EG arrow between and I below were used.
The random application here would seem to concur with munitions grade character of the sword, which in my view may suggest this to be a sabre produced for Native Cavalry of the units serving in the Raj, perhaps 1870s to turn of the century. The blade is of the form of much earlier tulwars.
Actually the choice of swords was often given to these units, and many forms which were now obsolete British patterns were still produced into the 20th c. They were still making M1796 and M1821 sabres through the 1880s and a number of M1853 were made for private Indian security forces.
I once had brass hilted tulwars made by Mole for these Indian units, so this well may be one of the 'Raj' pieces in my opinion.
Simple but solid and quite functional.
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Hello Jim, Thank you for your reply, as always I am in awe of your knowledge of this subject and really appreciate you giving the time to provide so much interesting information for which I am much obliged.
Regards
Miguel
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