The best "Tulwar" I have ever bought

Royston · 25th September 2008, 02:14 PM

A nice find at a local antiques fair.

The Vendor had several Tulwars and this. He charged me a little more than the others as he thought it was a slightly unusual Tulwar as it had a brass hilt and silver bands on the scabbard.
I did not complain and gladly paid the money.

Has anyone ever seen a straight bladed Piso Podang ? Or would it then have another name ? I cannot find any references or photographs. I would appreciate it if anyone can let me have any information on this.

Thanks

Royston

Rick · 25th September 2008, 03:03 PM

Nice example; I like the engraving .
European blade ?

ariel · 25th September 2008, 03:58 PM

Here is one you asked for:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1706

CourseEight · 25th September 2008, 04:20 PM

And another:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=piso

Lew · 25th September 2008, 04:24 PM

It's not a tulwar

That is a piso podang

Very nice pick up.

Lew

Royston · 26th September 2008, 11:41 AM

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your replies.

Rick, it is a European blade, I just haven't cleaned it yet !!

Ariel and CourseEight. Thanks for the links. I have never seen another with a straight blade so I am supposing that they are rare. The iron hilt looks even more uncommon.

Photographs attached of mine. It is large at 92cm long with a 82 cm blade. The blade is definitely paterned but I would not like to say if it is native or not. Anyone got any suggestions?

The scabbard appears contemporary and is a good fit.

Regards
Royston

fernando · 26th September 2008, 08:00 PM

I wonder where Zonneveld fetched the version that Podang derives from a Portuguese term.
Espadão means 'large sword' and is the alternative name for Montante (Great sword), a huge thing, about twice the size of the Podang (pedang/Peudeung).
On the other hand he tipifies Podang as a slightly curved sabre, whereas what the Portuguese dealt with, at the time their weapons and namings might have left their influence, were straight swords.
Later he sugests that the Podang's shape maybe an imitation of Indian and Portuguese swords, and i fail to discern how such two are comparable ... specially on the hilt langets

.
Finaly, you don't write 'Espadao' but 'Espadão', which makes a lot of difference. The nasal (unique) diphtong 'ão' sounds more like 'espadaum' than 'espadan' ... and never 'espadang'; no word terminates or sounds as having a 'g' in Portuguese.
... this not pretending that Zonneveld's proposal is wrong

I wish i could find some track.

Fernando

Rick · 27th September 2008, 12:41 AM

Royston,
First you show us a curved Piso to discuss; then you post a straight example ...

Which sword are we discussing ??

Royston · 27th September 2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Royston,First you show us a curved Piso to discuss; then you post a straight example ...*

Which sword are we discussing ??

Rick,Sorry about the confusion.* I get sidetracked too easily*

I think the straight blades are more interesting,* so I'll stick to them.Any more information or photos would be gratefully received.RegardsRoyston

RSWORD · 27th September 2008, 11:36 AM

Your straight bladed example has a lovely pattern welded blade and you can clearly see the lamination which is a bold pattern in the central portion of the blade with wavy laminations along each edge. Hard to say if it is native or Indian made. You do see similar patterns in both cultures. For example, sikim blades from Atjeh can have similar patterns but I have also seen tulwar with very similar forging. Given the long standing trade routes between India and Sumatra and the fact the Piso Podang hilt is based on an early tulwar style hilt I wouldn't be surprised if the forging techniques also crossed over.

25th September 2008, 02:14 PM	#1
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 441	The best "Tulwar" I have ever bought A nice find at a local antiques fair. The Vendor had several Tulwars and this. He charged me a little more than the others as he thought it was a slightly unusual Tulwar as it had a brass hilt and silver bands on the scabbard. I did not complain and gladly paid the money. Has anyone ever seen a straight bladed Piso Podang ? Or would it then have another name ? I cannot find any references or photographs. I would appreciate it if anyone can let me have any information on this. Thanks Royston Attached Images

26th September 2008, 11:41 AM	#6
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 441	Straight Piso Podang Gentlemen, Thank you for your replies. Rick, it is a European blade, I just haven't cleaned it yet !! Ariel and CourseEight. Thanks for the links. I have never seen another with a straight blade so I am supposing that they are rare. The iron hilt looks even more uncommon. Photographs attached of mine. It is large at 92cm long with a 82 cm blade. The blade is definitely paterned but I would not like to say if it is native or not. Anyone got any suggestions? The scabbard appears contemporary and is a good fit. Regards Royston Attached Images

26th September 2008, 08:00 PM	#7
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	A riddle I wonder where Zonneveld fetched the version that Podang derives from a Portuguese term. Espadão means 'large sword' and is the alternative name for Montante (Great sword), a huge thing, about twice the size of the Podang (pedang/Peudeung). On the other hand he tipifies Podang as a slightly curved sabre, whereas what the Portuguese dealt with, at the time their weapons and namings might have left their influence, were straight swords. Later he sugests that the Podang's shape maybe an imitation of Indian and Portuguese swords, and i fail to discern how such two are comparable ... specially on the hilt langets . Finaly, you don't write 'Espadao' but 'Espadão', which makes a lot of difference. The nasal (unique) diphtong 'ão' sounds more like 'espadaum' than 'espadan' ... and never 'espadang'; no word terminates or sounds as having a 'g' in Portuguese. ... this not pretending that Zonneveld's proposal is wrong I wish i could find some track. Fernando

25th September 2008, 03:03 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	Nice example; I like the engraving . European blade ?

25th September 2008, 03:58 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Here is one you asked for: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1706

25th September 2008, 04:20 PM	#4
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	And another: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=piso

25th September 2008, 04:24 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	It's not a tulwar That is a piso podang Very nice pick up. Lew

27th September 2008, 12:41 AM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	Royston, First you show us a curved Piso to discuss; then you post a straight example ... Which sword are we discussing ??

27th September 2008, 11:36 AM	#10
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	Your straight bladed example has a lovely pattern welded blade and you can clearly see the lamination which is a bold pattern in the central portion of the blade with wavy laminations along each edge. Hard to say if it is native or Indian made. You do see similar patterns in both cultures. For example, sikim blades from Atjeh can have similar patterns but I have also seen tulwar with very similar forging. Given the long standing trade routes between India and Sumatra and the fact the Piso Podang hilt is based on an early tulwar style hilt I wouldn't be surprised if the forging techniques also crossed over.