"tears of the wounded" swords...

Jens Nordlunde · 27th August 2008, 12:25 PM

Ganga-Jamni. When gold and silver are used together in a decoration, is called Ganga-Jamni. It is supposed to imitate the manner in which the muddy stream of the Ganges and the pure waters of the Jumna flow for some time together, side-by-side, but unmixed, at their junction below the fort at Allahabad.

I don’t know if the two different colours on the chevron blades have the same meaning, or if the meaning is different.

ward · 27th August 2008, 04:17 PM

Only seen terars of the wounded with metal balls I think they're just deocrative maybe to show the smith's skill

Ward

Bill M · 28th August 2008, 12:42 AM

The few swords I have seen with these balls had very small balls, only a few mm in diameter. Less than 1/8th inch. Certainly not enough to affect the swinging of the blade. The channels in which they rode -- though small -- would seem to affect the integrity of the blade.

I seem to remember a similar conversation with Phillip Tom.

Jens Nordlunde · 28th August 2008, 12:44 PM

I once did measure one of the steel balls, and it measured 4 mm in diameter. What I don’t know is, if the original diameter was bigger, and the ball has been worn, not do I know if the number of balls were the same in the different sword blades having the tears of the wounded.

Jim McDougall · 28th August 2008, 05:39 PM

Many European rapier blades and dagger blades had various piercings, which dont seem to have impaired the integrity of the blades, so perhaps the idea's merit is unlikely.

Bill M · 28th August 2008, 05:51 PM

Jim,

This is may be correct, however, and I am running on memory here, the "piercings" I saw in these "tears" swords could be a channel in the blade, sometimes two parallel channels that were about 5 -6 inches long by 4 or 5mm wide.

Personally, I'd be a little concerned if I had to wield such a blade in battle, but, of course I'd rather be on a hilltop with a sniper rifle anyway!

Jim McDougall · 28th August 2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Jim,

This is may be correct, however, and I am running on memory here, the "piercings" I saw in these "tears" swords could be a channel in the blade, sometimes two parallel channels that were about 5 -6 inches long by 4 or 5mm wide.

Personally, I'd be a little concerned if I had to wield such a blade in battle, but, of course I'd rather be on a hilltop with a sniper rifle anyway!

Thanks for answering Bill. You're right, these were channels, and Philip Tom did make the suggestion it seems at some point that these would have a compromising effect on the blades integrity. However, it should be remembered as well that wootz blades did gain a certain disfavor as in combat they were prone to breaking as opposed to forged blades, if I understand the matallurgists correctly. For these reasons, the court, parade and presentation swords typically received the luxurious blades.

On the sniper rifle, saw a good movie on that last week.."the Shooter".

27th August 2008, 12:25 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Ganga-Jamni. When gold and silver are used together in a decoration, is called Ganga-Jamni. It is supposed to imitate the manner in which the muddy stream of the Ganges and the pure waters of the Jumna flow for some time together, side-by-side, but unmixed, at their junction below the fort at Allahabad. I don’t know if the two different colours on the chevron blades have the same meaning, or if the meaning is different.

27th August 2008, 04:17 PM	#2
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Only seen terars of the wounded with metal balls I think they're just deocrative maybe to show the smith's skill Ward

28th August 2008, 12:42 AM	#3
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	The few swords I have seen with these balls had very small balls, only a few mm in diameter. Less than 1/8th inch. Certainly not enough to affect the swinging of the blade. The channels in which they rode -- though small -- would seem to affect the integrity of the blade. I seem to remember a similar conversation with Phillip Tom.

28th August 2008, 12:44 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I once did measure one of the steel balls, and it measured 4 mm in diameter. What I don’t know is, if the original diameter was bigger, and the ball has been worn, not do I know if the number of balls were the same in the different sword blades having the tears of the wounded.

28th August 2008, 05:39 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,654	Many European rapier blades and dagger blades had various piercings, which dont seem to have impaired the integrity of the blades, so perhaps the idea's merit is unlikely.

28th August 2008, 05:51 PM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Jim, This is may be correct, however, and I am running on memory here, the "piercings" I saw in these "tears" swords could be a channel in the blade, sometimes two parallel channels that were about 5 -6 inches long by 4 or 5mm wide. Personally, I'd be a little concerned if I had to wield such a blade in battle, but, of course I'd rather be on a hilltop with a sniper rifle anyway!