Khanda (Firangi) Sword

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you Yuri,
I think you may be right on yours, and the blade is likely Rajasthani made.
As noted these khanda were highly regarded and revered by both Rajputs and Sikhs. This example may well have been held in such a ceremonial status in some manner, but I am not familiar with such particulars.

Best regards
Jim

Hi Jim!

The two excellent studies I linked to above are devoted to this topic.

I have these texts in Word format, if anyone is interested, write me an email in a private message, I will be happy to share the information.

A. Yu. Kurochkin

THE SWORD-STAFF: "THE SWORD OF SHIVAJI" FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE MAE RAS

ABSTRACT. The article describes an item from the collection of the MAE RAS (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences), which before being donated to the museum was used as a prop in the folk theater of Maharashtra and represented an attribute of the national hero of the Marathas - the sword of Shivaji. The author explains why a sword of this particular shape was chosen as a prop and attribute of Shivaji and how it relates to real historical examples. Information about famous swords that belonged to the historical Shivaji and items currently revered as such is also analyzed. The author cites historical sources, images, European testimonies, and provides terms used to designate swords of this type. It is concluded that the sword belongs to the well-known group of Indian staff swords, which had a mainly ceremonial purpose and were primarily insignia denoting the power and high position of the owner.

Portrait of Shivaji 1680-1687.

Best regards,
Yuri

[Sajen]

It's interesting to note that the khanda sword was adopted in the North of Sumatra and there it was called peudeung, just won by a German auction such a sword, mislabeled as "Khanda from India".

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Sajen

It's interesting to note that the khanda sword was adopted in the North of Sumatra and there it was called peudeung, just won by a German auction such a sword, mislabeled as "Khanda from India".

There's one in the World Museum here in Leiden that is similarly misidentified. I attempted to correct this years ago but it remains in the little Mughal arms exhibit to this day.