Age of indian sword?

spiral · 21st April 2015, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drabant1701

Can anyone date this sword? Is it called tulwar or talwar or may be somethimng else?

Yes it is a tulwar or talwar , {same word just different imagining of how to spell it in English.}

To my eye Id say the blade is old & the is hilt brand new....

Tipperary · 22nd April 2015, 01:00 AM

This looks like a 19th Century blade that has seen better days and has been remounted in a much more recent hilt. At least some of the old skills in metalworking are not dead yet. However its a shame that they are being used to less than ideal effect.

BANDOOK · 22nd April 2015, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

Yes it is a tulwar or talwar , {same word just different imagining of how to spell it in English.}

To my eye Id say the blade is old & the is hilt brand new....

YES TALWAR ,AM SURE ITS A REPRODUCTION..LOT OF FAKES GOING AROUND SOLD AS ANTIQUES ,BE CAREFUL WHILE BUYING ON EBAY

ALEX · 22nd April 2015, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BANDOOK

YES TALWAR ,AM SURE ITS A REPRODUCTION..LOT OF FAKES GOING AROUND SOLD AS ANTIQUES ,BE CAREFUL WHILE BUYING ON EBAY

Really?

The fact that there are many reproductions on eBay does not mean that all Indian tulwars are fake now

There was a similar discussion regarding old, bad quality Indian Katars, and people jump to conclusions all over without substantiating.
What makes you think that this Tulwar is brand new (including the handle)?

CharlesS · 22nd April 2015, 03:38 PM

I'd like to see better pics and possibly an etch of the blade, but I am not entirely...or even at all...convinced that this piece is "brand new".

Did it come from India? or elsewhere?

Could we get pics of the top side and inside of the pommel.

I suspect if this blade is etched it may show Indian style crystalline wootz steel....and not the new type.

The heavy silver koftgari is not a style or quality typical to reproductions.

...I'd have too see more to have an opinion.

ALEX · 22nd April 2015, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

I'd like to see better pics and possibly an etch of the blade, but I am not entirely...or even at all...convinced that this piece is "brand new".

Did it come from India? or elsewhere?

Could we get pics of the top side and inside of the pommel.

I suspect if this blade is etched it may show Indian style crystalline wootz steel....and not the new type.

The heavy silver koftgari is not a style or quality typical to reproductions.

...I'd have too see more to have an opinion.

This is a proper approach coming from truly experienced professional, accomplished collector and highly esteemed colleague. Bravo, Charles!

Runjeet Singh · 22nd April 2015, 04:35 PM

To my eye this sword is 19th Century and completely genuine. How do I know? Now that is a difficult question, I think you just have to look at lots of originals and compare them to the fakes.

The fakes that are coming out of India, always have technical inaccuracies. They are either too poor in quality, or so perfect it looks obvious. The forgers cannot seem to get the balance. Proportions, weights and sizes also prove difficult areas for these people to grasp.

I don't want to go into specifics, so not to give the forgers too much info, but there are tell tale signs on this sword to indicate its age.

Hope that helps,
Runjeet Singh.

spiral · 22nd April 2015, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

Yes it is a tulwar or talwar , {same word just different imagining of how to spell it in English.}

To my eye Id say the blade is old & the is hilt brand new....

I bow to my more learned colleges experience..

In the initial photo It looks like a hilt a friend of mine had had made in India a few years back. It appears I was wrong...

CharlesS · 22nd April 2015, 10:41 PM

No worries Spiral! You are absolutely right to be a bit cynical. The stuff coming out of India tends to come in a variety of qualities, some awful, some very good, especially old dagger blades with new koftgari.

I think Runjeet said it best, noting the the newbies just aren't quite right in one way or another.

I was very interested in a dagger at the Vegas show, but I knew that repros were being made of the same type, so I convinced myself it must be a fake, then Runjeet and I huddled over it and he thought I was wrong and explained why...without that insight I never would have bought it.

Beware, they are reproducing dhas in Thailand now and dha lover will recognize the newbies instantly, but a novice might not. Those often end up on Ebay too.

....just another reason I love the knowledge and experience shared on this forum!

22nd April 2015, 04:35 PM	#7
Runjeet Singh Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warwickshire, England Posts: 150	To my eye this sword is 19th Century and completely genuine. How do I know? Now that is a difficult question, I think you just have to look at lots of originals and compare them to the fakes. The fakes that are coming out of India, always have technical inaccuracies. They are either too poor in quality, or so perfect it looks obvious. The forgers cannot seem to get the balance. Proportions, weights and sizes also prove difficult areas for these people to grasp. I don't want to go into specifics, so not to give the forgers too much info, but there are tell tale signs on this sword to indicate its age. Hope that helps, Runjeet Singh. Last edited by Akaalarms; 22nd April 2015 at 04:51 PM.

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22nd April 2015, 01:00 AM	#2
Tipperary Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 2	This looks like a 19th Century blade that has seen better days and has been remounted in a much more recent hilt. At least some of the old skills in metalworking are not dead yet. However its a shame that they are being used to less than ideal effect.

22nd April 2015, 03:38 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	I'd like to see better pics and possibly an etch of the blade, but I am not entirely...or even at all...convinced that this piece is "brand new". Did it come from India? or elsewhere? Could we get pics of the top side and inside of the pommel. I suspect if this blade is etched it may show Indian style crystalline wootz steel....and not the new type. The heavy silver koftgari is not a style or quality typical to reproductions. ...I'd have too see more to have an opinion.

22nd April 2015, 10:41 PM	#9
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	No worries Spiral! You are absolutely right to be a bit cynical. The stuff coming out of India tends to come in a variety of qualities, some awful, some very good, especially old dagger blades with new koftgari. I think Runjeet said it best, noting the the newbies just aren't quite right in one way or another. I was very interested in a dagger at the Vegas show, but I knew that repros were being made of the same type, so I convinced myself it must be a fake, then Runjeet and I huddled over it and he thought I was wrong and explained why...without that insight I never would have bought it. Beware, they are reproducing dhas in Thailand now and dha lover will recognize the newbies instantly, but a novice might not. Those often end up on Ebay too. ....just another reason I love the knowledge and experience shared on this forum!