Ethnographic Arms & Armour

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-   -   Suspect Firanghi for comment (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25502)

Cthulhu 23rd December 2019 11:53 PM

Suspect Firanghi for comment
 
4 Attachment(s)
Here's a firanghi I've had for some time. I'm a little suspicious of its authenticity.

The features that give me pause:

The reinforcements that fit over the blade fit perfectly, as if they're made for each other, which isn't really how the whole "foreign-bladed" thing typically goes.

There's no pin going through the reinforcement and the blade. I can't imagine a swordsmith trusting their welds so much that they want to skip the pin.

The bottom of the hilt's "cup" is perfectly rounded, and also empty inside, unlike a typical firangi.

The backspike is very round, and I don't really like its seam, though I can't say exactly why those bother me.

It's Firanghi 'A' in the photos, alongside another that I'm reasonably confident about.

What do you think? Definitely modern? Anything else that gives it away?

Cthulhu 30th December 2019 09:34 PM

Should I assume that I'm entirely correct that this is a fake, for exactly the reasons I mentioned?
Are there any other tell-tale signs I should be aware of in the future?

David R 30th December 2019 10:07 PM

Others will weigh in here, but I think you have a late period example, rather than a "fake." They were a high status item and survived as "processional" pieces long after they were "battle field" weapons.

Cthulhu 4th January 2020 12:41 AM

Late period would be nice, rather than a made-for-ebay special. I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say about it.

grendolino 1st April 2020 06:13 PM

Well, according to Elgood (Rajput arms & armour, vol 1, p475) it could be contradictory: The plain one could be folder, as those with shorter spike and more complex crossbar are clearly marked as nineteent-century .


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