The spike or spine on the khanda pommel

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kronckew

The 'Bud' on my khanda which has had it's 'basket' removed is much too small to aid in gripping with the off hand, which as noted would be better off holding on to the shield.

This is a really intriguing example Wayne! but I see it as a talwar (that is an Indo-Persian hilt) rather than a khanda. While I know 'khanda' is a dialectic term for sword, just as talwar, in our parlance they have become distinctive to familiar hilt forms.

This seems to have had the blade tip rebated to more squared end, and seems shortened. The blade also seems to have the 'Indian ricasso' at the edge near hilt. Those decorative circled dots are also fascinating as they are often seen on weapon motif in Afghan and Northwest Indian regions.
I think what was likely removed was the knuckleguard, which seems to have been a somewhat known remedy for the larger hands on many Afghans.
Here again, the stem or extension is very much like a 'bud' and of course not remotely associated with a second hand grip (as you well note should be busy holding a shield).
Also as mentioned earlier, this may well be the 'dungarpuri' style hilt associated with Rajasthan but of course was found throughout these areas into northwest.

It would seem that weapons of course were captured or lost and retrieved and became used by other tribesmen who would have had them altered to suit their own requirements.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

GREAT THREAD Jim... I thought the spike on the hilt was for a number of possibilities !!

1. Protecting the slice by an opponent to the sword hand wrist. In the Khanda with the right angle turn that could disarm the opponent>
2. Possibly used to finish an opponent by using a two handed grip using the spike in its straight form for the spare hand...
3. As a striking weapon to the opponents face neck or eyes again in the straight form.
4. As a counterweight to the blade simply adding weight at the pommel.

Wikepedia notes many Gods wielding Khanda and in Indian Martial Arts particularly the form called Gatka the Khanda is often seen.

HERE below is a goddess from the 7th C. using a Khanda form. By Pavan Srinath - http://waxingnonsensical.blogspot.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16635629

Such importance is given in the indian martial arts systems that I should mention Gatka, the Sikh Martial Art form Please see https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gatka

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks very much Ibrahiim!
There are truly a number of considerations for the purpose or meaning of the stem or spike extension on the khanda, but these are a convention which seems to have arisen with the 'Hindu basket hilt'. This was of course the evolution of the guard system of the traditional khanda sword dating into ancient India, and is generally thought to have occurred post European contact.

The traditional khanda did seem to have the cup like pommel, but I am not aware of the spike feature on the pre 17th c. swords without finger guard plate (joining guard plate and pommel).

While the spike, as we have discussed surely may have been used in the manner suggested if of sufficient length, there are many variations where these are inadequate for such functions. With this being the case, we cannot say the spike was never used as a hand hold, it might have been done incidentally.

It is really helpful to have this kind of input here to review examples and references which give us a greater overview on these swords.

[Bob A]

While having no knowledge whatever regarding these hilts, I'm struck by two thoughts on the subject.

First, the gorgeous examples above appear to be "parade" or "display" weapons. I can't imagine using them in battle. One might infer that the protrusions would therefore be more fanciful than utilitarian.

Second, many of these swords which I've seen depicted, of a far lower level of adornment, seem to have more nearly straight protrusions. Going on the basis of form following function, I see them as useful in striking against an attack from behind or below the sword-bearer. A backhand blow would be more quickly delivered than a 180 degree turn to bring a long blade into action. A descending blow from the hilt, assuming a mounted or more elevated position of the sword-bearer, would certainly crush a skull, for example. The mass of the sword would enhance the force of the stroke.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Bob A

While having no knowledge whatever regarding these hilts, I'm struck by two thoughts on the subject.

First, the gorgeous examples above appear to be "parade" or "display" weapons. I can't imagine using them in battle. One might infer that the protrusions would therefore be more fanciful than utilitarian.

Second, many of these swords which I've seen depicted, of a far lower level of adornment, seem to have more nearly straight protrusions. Going on the basis of form following function, I see them as useful in striking against an attack from behind or below the sword-bearer. A backhand blow would be more quickly delivered than a 180 degree turn to bring a long blade into action. A descending blow from the hilt, assuming a mounted or more elevated position of the sword-bearer, would certainly crush a skull, for example. The mass of the sword would enhance the force of the stroke.

Thank you Bob for these very astute observations, much appreciated. I think your points are well made, and I remain convinced that these protrusions COULD be used to grasp in an incidental situation, they were not made with such intent. Regarding the parade or ceremonial aspect, it is noted in a number of references that the 'stem' served as a hand rest.

One thing I noticed in recent research, there are 'khanda' (Hindu basket ) type hilts on maces as well as axes with combo firearms, and some of these have the same extension/protrusion on them out of the pommel. Clearly these would not serve for a 'two hand' stroke as suggested with the swords...at least not in the same sense.