Victorian Era Native Indian Talwar (Aka Talwaar Or Tulwar) Fighting Sword / Sabre & Scabbard. Sn 23675 Sword

Victorian Era Native Indian Talwar (Aka Talwaar Or Tulwar) Fighting Sword / Sabre & Scabbard. Sn 23675 - 23675

The talwar (also spelled talwaar and tulwar, is a type of curved sword or sabre from the Indian subcontinent). Like many swords from around the world with an etymology derived from a term meaning simply 'sword', the talwar has in scholarship, and in museum and collector usage, acquired a more specific meaning. Unfortunately, South Asian swords, while showing a rich diversity of forms, suffer from relatively poor dating (so developmental history is obscure) and a lack of precise nomenclature and classification. The typical talwar is a type of sabre, characterised by a curved blade (without the radical curve of some Persian swords), possessing an all-metal hilt with integral quillons and a disc-shaped pommel (sometimes called the 'Indo-Muslim hilt' or 'standard Indian hilt'). The talwar was used by both Cavalry and Infantry. The grip of the talwar is cramped and the prominent disc of the pommel presses into the wrist if attempts are made to use it to cut like a conventional sabre. These features of the talwar hilt result in the hand having a very secure and rather inflexible hold on the weapon, enforcing the use of variations on the very effective "draw cut". When a blow was struck by a skilled warrior, limbs could be amputated and persons decapitated. The spike attached to the pommel could be used for striking the opponent in extreme close quarter circumstances when it was not always possible to use the blade (see pages 601 and 602 of A Glossary of Arms & Armor by Stone where similar Talwars are described and illustrated). Our example most likely made in the Victorian era has all of the correct Talwar characteristics such all metal construction, small grip, disc with point pommel, curved 29 ¼” long sabre blade with naïve tooled decoration (illustrated), knuckle guard and hilt langets. The Talwar measures 34 ½” overall length. The Talwar has even patina and the blade has just light staining consistent with age. There are no maker or date marks on the sword. The sword is accompanied by its period leather covered wood scabbard. The scabbard is missing its chape leaving the tip open. The leather has just light surface scuffs. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23675

£245.00