Help needed with makers mark on tulwar

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Will M

How was it decided a Tulwar blade without any hilt? Looks like a French line cavalry blade (may have been altered) but no pic of the whole blade.

Excellent point Will, the VERY reason we have described the importance of including the entire sword in addition to any closeup of markings, inscriptions etc.
Without context, a marking or inscription could be found on a wide spectrum of blades or many potential places. As you point out, this blade does look like one of the French straight blade with that pronounced mid rib. However I have never known anyone but Solingen to use the spuriously placed Toledo mark.

[Jim McDougall]

It is a shame that Randal has 'left the building', as it would have been interesting to see the full context of this 'tulwar'. The mid rib of the blade of course in surely not from a tulwar in the standard sense, but it is always possible this blade may have been mounted with the Indo-Persian hilt.

Just the same, the mark is of course spuriously placed and is meant to represent the Toledo export mark, typically with other marks on the authentic blades much earlier than this.