Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


94 - Tulwar with Bikaner Armory (Rajasthan, India) Markings, circa 1850

A nice, simple tulwar with an inscription composed of punctuate marks characteristic of items once residing in the Bikaner Armory in Rajasthan India, dated by Lew as circa 1850. The well-formed hilt is made of iron without evidence of applied decoration; the quillons appear have been attached to a grip, quillon block and langets formed of two pieces joined at the midline. The 30 inch long gently curved blade becomes double-edged for its furthest 11 inches while there is a 2½ inch unsharpened ricasso. Though now clean, the blade surface does show evidence of previous corrosion and in a small area next to the number sticker there appears to have been a small window polished but without definite evidence of patterning. Lew's notes indicated no scabbard, but the scabbard shown was found among residual parts and fits the blade all too well for coincidence. It is beyond practical serviceability unless recovered or reinforced and is made of wood with a partially lost leather covering and has pulled apart at the tip and in other places. Overall length is about 35½ inches with a weight of 38 ounces.




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