Is This A Pala With An Indian Blade?

Kubur · 14th October 2017, 05:59 PM

Can you post close-ups of the hilt?
I would like to see if you have the original wrapping around the hilt.
And also show us the joint between the grips

Aslan Paladin · 14th October 2017, 09:30 PM

Images of the hilt and blade connection. The adhesive seems to be a blackish-brown resin of some sort.

Aslan Paladin · 14th October 2017, 09:37 PM

I can't remember if the blade I saw also had the katar mark. Since I didn't recognize it was a katar it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I thought I saved the image but I can't find it in my laptop files. I'm still skimming through the past forum threads again to find it but I am sure it is here.

Aslan Paladin · 14th October 2017, 10:00 PM

The grip strap is plain brass with no decorative marks and the hilt is covered with a black velvet cloth secured by black string wound around numerous times in a random manner, leaving only the pommel exposed (although I did push the lower edge of the cloth back to expose a few millimeters of the body of the brass cross guard). Kubur unfortunately I don't have any other hilt wrapping which came with the sword. Jens that was also my initial thought, that the blade may have actually belonged to a tegha. But the width of the widest part of the blade (the yelman) is less than 2 inches wide, I don't know if that would qualify it as such. Maybe more of a tegha-like blade perhaps? Marius I agree with you and am open to the idea that it could have actually no Ottoman connection whatsoever since I haven't seen of any kilij with an Indian sword before and the hilt is sub par as compared to others. But on the other hand I am curious why should this apparently Indian blade be given a Turkish-style hilt by it's maker (why not a tulwar hilt which makes more sense IMHO). I don't know if it's a later marriage but as far as I can see the way the blade is secured to the hilt it does not show evidence of modern adhesive. I compared the adhesives used in the 3 Turkish-hilted swords I have and they all look the same to me. By the way when I received this sword the entire blade was covered in rust (same appearance as the remaining rust under the langets).

Aslan Paladin · 14th October 2017, 10:09 PM

I want to remove the velvet covering but I am discouraged by the thought of seeing what horror it is concealing underneath. I did take a peak underneath the edge covering the pommel and I saw part of the wooden grip just gone. So I could imagine large sections of the grip with gaps and probably the brass grip strap would have extensive losses as well. And I don't think there is anyone in town who can professionally restore the grip in case I decide to pursue that course anyway.

Jens Nordlunde · 14th October 2017, 10:28 PM

I dont know about the hilt, but there was in different parts of India a very big influence from Turky, Persia and Afghanistan.

Aslan Paladin · 14th October 2017, 10:51 PM

I would assume most likely Northern India? Rajasthan? By the way I found this thread discussing the katar stamp while I was looking for the similar-bladed tulwar I mentioned earlier http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=tulwar

Kubur · 14th October 2017, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aslan Paladin

I want to remove the velvet covering but I am discouraged by the thought of seeing what horror it is concealing underneath.(

Please don't remove this velvet, it's very are to have a hilt with the original wrapping!
To me it gives some value to your sword.
Here you have a wrapping around an Ottoman kilij...

Kubur · 14th October 2017, 10:59 PM

To me the joint and the guard are very similar.
It's a very cool sword, maybe a tegha blade or an Afghan blade is it possible?
Look at the wrapping here...

14th October 2017, 09:30 PM	#2
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	Images of the hilt and blade connection. The adhesive seems to be a blackish-brown resin of some sort. Attached Images

14th October 2017, 10:00 PM	#4
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	The grip strap is plain brass with no decorative marks and the hilt is covered with a black velvet cloth secured by black string wound around numerous times in a random manner, leaving only the pommel exposed (although I did push the lower edge of the cloth back to expose a few millimeters of the body of the brass cross guard). Kubur unfortunately I don't have any other hilt wrapping which came with the sword. Jens that was also my initial thought, that the blade may have actually belonged to a tegha. But the width of the widest part of the blade (the yelman) is less than 2 inches wide, I don't know if that would qualify it as such. Maybe more of a tegha-like blade perhaps? Marius I agree with you and am open to the idea that it could have actually no Ottoman connection whatsoever since I haven't seen of any kilij with an Indian sword before and the hilt is sub par as compared to others. But on the other hand I am curious why should this apparently Indian blade be given a Turkish-style hilt by it's maker (why not a tulwar hilt which makes more sense IMHO). I don't know if it's a later marriage but as far as I can see the way the blade is secured to the hilt it does not show evidence of modern adhesive. I compared the adhesives used in the 3 Turkish-hilted swords I have and they all look the same to me. By the way when I received this sword the entire blade was covered in rust (same appearance as the remaining rust under the langets). Attached Images

14th October 2017, 10:09 PM	#5
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	I want to remove the velvet covering but I am discouraged by the thought of seeing what horror it is concealing underneath. I did take a peak underneath the edge covering the pommel and I saw part of the wooden grip just gone. So I could imagine large sections of the grip with gaps and probably the brass grip strap would have extensive losses as well. And I don't think there is anyone in town who can professionally restore the grip in case I decide to pursue that course anyway. Last edited by Aslan Paladin; 15th October 2017 at 10:44 AM.

14th October 2017, 10:51 PM	#7
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	I would assume most likely Northern India? Rajasthan? By the way I found this thread discussing the katar stamp while I was looking for the similar-bladed tulwar I mentioned earlier http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=tulwar Attached Images Last edited by Aslan Paladin; 14th October 2017 at 11:50 PM.

14th October 2017, 10:59 PM	#9
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	To me the joint and the guard are very similar. It's a very cool sword, maybe a tegha blade or an Afghan blade is it possible? Look at the wrapping here... Attached Images

14th October 2017, 05:59 PM	#1
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Can you post close-ups of the hilt? I would like to see if you have the original wrapping around the hilt. And also show us the joint between the grips

14th October 2017, 09:37 PM	#3
Aslan Paladin Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Te Aroha, New Zealand Posts: 122	I can't remember if the blade I saw also had the katar mark. Since I didn't recognize it was a katar it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I thought I saved the image but I can't find it in my laptop files. I'm still skimming through the past forum threads again to find it but I am sure it is here.

14th October 2017, 10:28 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I dont know about the hilt, but there was in different parts of India a very big influence from Turky, Persia and Afghanistan.