My first Tulwar

ariel · 10th September 2007, 11:24 PM

Try to polish it with 600-800 grit and then etch it.
You may be pleasantly surprised

fernando · 11th September 2007, 12:01 AM

I don't know if i have the guts to embark onto such adventure

Naturally i would like to see the result, but i am afraid for limitations

.

Lew · 11th September 2007, 04:19 AM

Fernando

I would just leave it be. My limited experience with these types of swords is that they are usually regular steel and looking at yours I see no reason to risk screwing up the patina. It is a very lovely example.

Congrats

Lew

Jim McDougall · 11th September 2007, 06:08 AM

I think you have done well again Fernando!
I would give Ariel a high grade in his assessment of this tulwar (if I were an Indian specialist

The term 'Delhishahi' if I am not mistaken derives from the Pant typology on Indian hilts ("Indian Arms & Armour" Dr. G.N.Pant, 1980)and this hilt may be considered by that term using that reference. While the term may suggest Delhi as the region for the origins of the hilt form, the actual categorization of tulwar hilt forms by region remains unresolved, and Dr.Pant's work remains an important benchmark for future studies. The book itself I still consider a most valuable resource for the comprehensive data it contains on Indian weaponry.

I would agree that this is likely a late 18th-early 19th c. tulwar probably Rajput and most likely from Rajasthan regions. I am inclined to doubt that the blade is wootz, and agree completely with Lew, leave the patination alone.
The incised motif is indeed often seen on hunting weapons (shikargaha) with images of animals , and figures of the Hindu pantheon are often on blades in low relief on sacrificial weapons. While this does not appear to be such a weapon it may have been intended as a court or parade weapon, but the floral /vegetal motif is unclear. Botanical symbolism was key in varying application in Hindu symbolism and is beautifully described in Robert Elgood's "Hindu Arms and Ritual" , so perhaps closer analysis of the depictions on this blade might reveal more.

Does the motif only appear on one side of the blade Fernando?

Best regards,
Jim

Jens Nordlunde · 11th September 2007, 05:10 PM

Hi Fernando,

Congratulations with your tulwar. It is a nice one. I doubt very much that the blade is wootz, so I would leave it as it is. It can be, but that is seldom, so if you don’t see any trace of wootz, it is not likely to be wootz. I would be somewhat surprised if the decoration is not on both sides – is it Fernando? I have a feeling, but it is a gut feeling mind you that the tulwar, maybe could be pushed a wee further back. How about mid 1800 to beginning of 1900?

Please let us see some picture with neutral background; the yellow gives too much ‘colour’ to the tulwar.

The size is interesting, as it is fairly small, and many of the hunting tulwars ad the same size of the fighting tulwars – no reason to come closer to a lion or a tiger than you had to, so I don’t think it is a hunting tulwar. Not that it could not have been used for hunting, but I don’t think it was made for this reason. You must remember that when they went to war, they often had two tulwars and three to four daggers in their belt, so maybe one of the tulwars was smaller than the other.

Jens

Battara · 11th September 2007, 07:54 PM

I do see possible pattern welding in the other blade side - without out what doing what Ariel mentioned it would be more difficult to be certain.

Jens - that many weapons? Now I know - Vielen Dank!

Lew · 11th September 2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I do see possible pattern welding in the other blade side - without out what doing what Ariel mentioned it would be more difficult to be certain.

Jens - that many weapons? Now I know - Vielen Dank!

Battara

I think that what you may be seeing is just some left over oxidation pattern I tried to fix the picture up but did not see anything.

Lew

11th September 2007, 12:01 AM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Etching I don't know if i have the guts to embark onto such adventure Naturally i would like to see the result, but i am afraid for limitations .

11th September 2007, 04:19 AM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Fernando I would just leave it be. My limited experience with these types of swords is that they are usually regular steel and looking at yours I see no reason to risk screwing up the patina. It is a very lovely example. Congrats Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 11th September 2007 at 11:33 AM.

10th September 2007, 11:24 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Try to polish it with 600-800 grit and then etch it. You may be pleasantly surprised

11th September 2007, 06:08 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	I think you have done well again Fernando! I would give Ariel a high grade in his assessment of this tulwar (if I were an Indian specialist The term 'Delhishahi' if I am not mistaken derives from the Pant typology on Indian hilts ("Indian Arms & Armour" Dr. G.N.Pant, 1980)and this hilt may be considered by that term using that reference. While the term may suggest Delhi as the region for the origins of the hilt form, the actual categorization of tulwar hilt forms by region remains unresolved, and Dr.Pant's work remains an important benchmark for future studies. The book itself I still consider a most valuable resource for the comprehensive data it contains on Indian weaponry. I would agree that this is likely a late 18th-early 19th c. tulwar probably Rajput and most likely from Rajasthan regions. I am inclined to doubt that the blade is wootz, and agree completely with Lew, leave the patination alone. The incised motif is indeed often seen on hunting weapons (shikargaha) with images of animals , and figures of the Hindu pantheon are often on blades in low relief on sacrificial weapons. While this does not appear to be such a weapon it may have been intended as a court or parade weapon, but the floral /vegetal motif is unclear. Botanical symbolism was key in varying application in Hindu symbolism and is beautifully described in Robert Elgood's "Hindu Arms and Ritual" , so perhaps closer analysis of the depictions on this blade might reveal more. Does the motif only appear on one side of the blade Fernando? Best regards, Jim

11th September 2007, 05:10 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Fernando, Congratulations with your tulwar. It is a nice one. I doubt very much that the blade is wootz, so I would leave it as it is. It can be, but that is seldom, so if you don’t see any trace of wootz, it is not likely to be wootz. I would be somewhat surprised if the decoration is not on both sides – is it Fernando? I have a feeling, but it is a gut feeling mind you that the tulwar, maybe could be pushed a wee further back. How about mid 1800 to beginning of 1900? Please let us see some picture with neutral background; the yellow gives too much ‘colour’ to the tulwar. The size is interesting, as it is fairly small, and many of the hunting tulwars ad the same size of the fighting tulwars – no reason to come closer to a lion or a tiger than you had to, so I don’t think it is a hunting tulwar. Not that it could not have been used for hunting, but I don’t think it was made for this reason. You must remember that when they went to war, they often had two tulwars and three to four daggers in their belt, so maybe one of the tulwars was smaller than the other. Jens

11th September 2007, 07:54 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I do see possible pattern welding in the other blade side - without out what doing what Ariel mentioned it would be more difficult to be certain. Jens - that many weapons? Now I know - Vielen Dank!