As noted in earlier posts, there was a propensity with the use of British M1796 blades in Indian tulwars, most noted during the Anglo-Sikh wars, when British cavalry found that the deadly tulwars used against them were actually old British blades honed razor sharp.
The convention seems to have continued in the Punjab regions after that, and other areas under East India Company dominion. I posted earlier a Mughal court type tulwar likely from Delhi mounted with an Osborn M1796 blade.
Also posted an Indian tulwar with steel Persian shamshir style hilt which also in this category of East India Company associated blade mountings, perhaps from Deccan, but at this point also the Punjab regions as well. This one has a British M1788 style blade. In the late 19th century, East India Company was contracting many blades of M1788 form to British makers. The foremost was Thomas Gill of Birmingham, but this blade is unmarked.
It is however decorated with koftgari which seems to align with the ad hoc ruling classes developing in the principalities in Punjabi areas housing the many mercenaries from Europe and Portugal.
One of these was Firingipura, outside Delhi during the reign of Shah Jahan with mostly French and other European mercenaries. There were Germans among these, and another of such 'foreign' principalities was situated in the Doab, north of Delhi.
While I had always focused on the use of the British blades in use, and thought perhaps these mounted in much more status oriented versions of tulwar might be diplomatically associated. I now see that perhaps the heirarchy of these foreign principalities might well be the solution to the examples I have.
With the example tulwar to the 4th Punjab Infantry, it would seem that the foreign blades circulating in these regions through the large numbers of European mercenaries in these times might account for the M1811 Blucher blade in this example.
As we see, a most historically pertinent example!!
Well done Chris!!!
