Hunting Tulwar (Tulwar Shikargah)

[fernando]

Looks like is beyond doubt that hunting talwars are not meant to be an operational weapon for hunting but a 'show off' item decorated with hunting scenes.
Still one thing to figure out is, why the massive quantity of these blades depict animal versus animal hunting scenes and not animals being hunted by men, be them their chasers (shikharis and mir shikaran) or their mounted hunter lords. Would there be a motive for such strong tendency ?

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by fernando

Looks like is beyond doubt that hunting talwars are not meant to be an operational weapon for hunting but a 'show off' item decorated with hunting scenes.
Still one thing to figure out is, why the massive quantity of these blades depict animal versus animal hunting scenes and not animals being hunted by men, be them their chasers (shikharis and mir shikaran) or their mounted hunter lords. Would there be a motive for such strong tendency ?

Hi Fernando,
I was wondering the same thing. In decorated hunting related European examples it either shows the quarry being hunted and/or the huntsman engaged in the hunt. The lack of evidence re edge sharpening may not be definitive but certainly points towards a more ceremonial/presentation and 19thC touristic possibility.
Regards,
Norman.