Tulwar for comment/discussion

Taffjones · 4th January 2013, 11:42 AM

Hi Guys
Comments welcome on this tulwar please. It has a thick blade of 6mm tapering down. with three fullers. What strikes me as unusual is the width of the blade which steps down in size about 15cm away from the hilt from 35mm before slowly tapering to its full width again. It shows old traces of koftgari work on the spine of the blade and the hilt area. It has various eye brow type markings along the blade. Its length across the curve from top of pommel to end of blade is 85cm.
Thanks
Darren

Taffjones · 4th January 2013, 11:56 AM

Two more photographs

A.alnakkas · 4th January 2013, 12:50 PM

Nice tulwar! I cant say much of them as I dont know alot about these type of blades. I had one very similar (minus the gold decoration) but sold it about 1 year ago.. The blades are certainly good!

Henk · 4th January 2013, 02:15 PM

problem solved.

Jens Nordlunde · 4th January 2013, 04:39 PM

I think you should try and research the hilt types from North-Northwest of India - you may find something useful.

Jim McDougall · 5th January 2013, 02:49 AM

It is always difficult to get too specific on many forms of Indian arms, with the tulwar being a most notorious example. These hilts were widely used from areas where they were often produced, then often fitted with blades from equally varying regions, as well as foreign blades.

This type of hilt is typical of those of the NW in India as Jens has noted, with various centers of production in Rajasthan. The blade is distinctly Indian, with not only the ricasso on the blade edge, but the often seen stepped or latch back feature on the back. These triple fullers seem to be often seen on tulwars of later 18th-19th c.

The hardest part of classification is also establishing possible date. These traditional forms were used over long periods of time, so focus on the decoration on the hilt is a possible avenue to follow. The designs on this hilt remind me somewhat of 'cintamani' related devices, but only in a general sense. I am inclined toward Sind, and likely 18th into 19th c. but only as speculation. Similar type blades and hilts are among the swords used by the Talpurs as noted by P.Hayes (1971), but actually the hilt with knuckleguard is well known in Rajput, Sikh and Mughal use as well, so more specific attribution is unlikely without key inscriptions, marks or motif. The koftgari on the blade back is seen on much earlier blades in India, and remind me of another sabre I had which I always considered from Sind as it had a solid steel shamshir type hilt with tulwar quillons and langet. It had a British M1788 cavalry blade with koftgari applied at the forte very similar.

The curious 'eyelash' or seemingly shallow crescents seen on the blade do not seem part of any significant intent, but marks like these and the trimurti (three dots) found sometimes at what appear strategic blade locations are often compelling.

Not much help Im afraid, but wanted to add some of the kinds of details considered in researching these swords, and hopefully some ideas.

4th January 2013, 11:42 AM	#1
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Tulwar for comment/discussion Hi Guys Comments welcome on this tulwar please. It has a thick blade of 6mm tapering down. with three fullers. What strikes me as unusual is the width of the blade which steps down in size about 15cm away from the hilt from 35mm before slowly tapering to its full width again. It shows old traces of koftgari work on the spine of the blade and the hilt area. It has various eye brow type markings along the blade. Its length across the curve from top of pommel to end of blade is 85cm. Thanks Darren Attached Images

4th January 2013, 11:56 AM	#2
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Two more photographs Attached Images

4th January 2013, 12:50 PM	#3
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,338	Nice tulwar! I cant say much of them as I dont know alot about these type of blades. I had one very similar (minus the gold decoration) but sold it about 1 year ago.. The blades are certainly good!

4th January 2013, 02:15 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	problem solved.

4th January 2013, 04:39 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	I think you should try and research the hilt types from North-Northwest of India - you may find something useful.

5th January 2013, 02:49 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	It is always difficult to get too specific on many forms of Indian arms, with the tulwar being a most notorious example. These hilts were widely used from areas where they were often produced, then often fitted with blades from equally varying regions, as well as foreign blades. This type of hilt is typical of those of the NW in India as Jens has noted, with various centers of production in Rajasthan. The blade is distinctly Indian, with not only the ricasso on the blade edge, but the often seen stepped or latch back feature on the back. These triple fullers seem to be often seen on tulwars of later 18th-19th c. The hardest part of classification is also establishing possible date. These traditional forms were used over long periods of time, so focus on the decoration on the hilt is a possible avenue to follow. The designs on this hilt remind me somewhat of 'cintamani' related devices, but only in a general sense. I am inclined toward Sind, and likely 18th into 19th c. but only as speculation. Similar type blades and hilts are among the swords used by the Talpurs as noted by P.Hayes (1971), but actually the hilt with knuckleguard is well known in Rajput, Sikh and Mughal use as well, so more specific attribution is unlikely without key inscriptions, marks or motif. The koftgari on the blade back is seen on much earlier blades in India, and remind me of another sabre I had which I always considered from Sind as it had a solid steel shamshir type hilt with tulwar quillons and langet. It had a British M1788 cavalry blade with koftgari applied at the forte very similar. The curious 'eyelash' or seemingly shallow crescents seen on the blade do not seem part of any significant intent, but marks like these and the trimurti (three dots) found sometimes at what appear strategic blade locations are often compelling. Not much help Im afraid, but wanted to add some of the kinds of details considered in researching these swords, and hopefully some ideas.