An Odd Indian Sword for Identification and Comment

[CharlesS]

Hopefully this will help.

[AhmedH]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Hopefully this will help.

Dear CharlesS,

I'm very sorry for posting the above photo to an Urdu speaking guy without your permission. Please do not be angry, nor misunderstand me. I've tried my best to decipher the inscriptions, but the above posting that I've submitted shows my limitations regarding this script.

Please accept my apologies, Sir. Thanks a lot in advance.

-Ahmed-

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by AhmedH

Dear CharlesS,

I'm very sorry for posting the above photo to an Urdu speaking guy without your permission. Please do not be angry, nor misunderstand me. I've tried my best to decipher the inscriptions, but the above posting that I've submitted shows my limitations regarding this script.

Please accept my apologies, Sir. Thanks a lot in advance.

-Ahmed-

Ahmed,

Apologies are hardly necessary. Thanks for your efforts. We are all just trying to learn a little bit here, so I am very grateful for your attempts.

It is certainly becoming clearer and clearer the locale of at least the origin of the blade. Its seems it must be from Persia or western Afghanistan.

[A.alnakkas]

the inscription reminds me of ones found on modern indian tourist items. This not to suggest that the piece is fake, not at all... but the inscription might be added recently and with the top inscription not meaning anything.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

the inscription reminds me of ones found on modern indian tourist items. This not to suggest that the piece is fake, not at all... but the inscription might be added recently and with the top inscription not meaning anything.

I have wondered the same thing. That's one reason I was so interested in a translation. No doubt the blade, scabbard, and fittings are old. The blade is quality wootz. The scabbard covering speaks for itself, and the fittings are chiseled steel....not something seen everyday, and no easy feat. But I have wondered if the cartouche was added later to make it more sellable and "blingy". If only we had a Farsi reader...we would likely know the truth.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Charles,
Not Farsi I'm afraid, one of my my son's friends is a native Farsi speaker so from the horse's mouth so to speak. She identified it as Arabic but the top cartouche did not make any sense. Sorry I couldn't help any further.
My Regards,
Norman.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Charles,
Not Farsi I'm afraid, one of my my son's friends is a native Farsi speaker so from the horse's mouth so to speak. She identified it as Arabic but the top cartouche did not make any sense. Sorry I couldn't help any further.
My Regards,
Norman.

Looking more and more like an added cartouche. Disappointing, but I still really like the sword.