Decoration on Indian blades

Jens Nordlunde · 29th January 2005, 10:24 AM

Here is a detail.

Alam Shah · 29th January 2005, 12:58 PM

Excellent pieces. Both of them. (Museum quality).

Jeff D · 29th January 2005, 08:20 PM

Nice pieces Jen thanks for sharing them with us. Could the hand guard be a later add on? The one in Figiel's book seems to attach in two places so it is unlikely it screws on.
I wonder if your hilt was made with out the guard and was added later as fashion or need dictated.

Thanks again for bringing these pieces up.
Jeff

Jens Nordlunde · 29th January 2005, 10:45 PM

Jeff,

I don't really know, but if the hand guard on mine was not bend so much, or the angle it was photographed in, was different it would also look as you describe. That Figiel has not commentet on it does not mean that the hand guars on his former sword, ccan not be screwed off, he might not have found it interesting, or maybe he did not even notice. It took me some time before I found out that it was loose.

Jens

Jeff D · 30th January 2005, 01:52 AM

Hi Jen,

I have seen older hilts that have been modified by placing a guard on. The photo below is one, however the guard was subsequently lost. I make this comment only to illustrate that even if the screw is relatively modern the hilt still may be quite old.

Jeff

Jens Nordlunde · 30th January 2005, 05:24 PM

Hi Jeff,

It is difficult to guess, but I will try anyway. To me it looks as if the guard has been cut off, this could mean that it has been broken – not reparable, or that the (new) owner did not like a guard.
I have another hilt where the guard is missing, but here it is clear, that the guard must have been loose from the start, and must have fallen off. Loose guards can’t have been so seldom as many believe, although I do believe that most guards were forged to the hilt.
Interesting hilt you show, are the eyes mountain crystal?

Jens

Jeff D · 30th January 2005, 06:09 PM

Hi Jens,

I am glad you asked about the eyes as I would like your opinion. I bought this one a couple years ago, and had the blade repolished. It has a nice pattern weld damascus. The eyes have a gummy substance that I think held in gems but they are long gone. I would like to have them replaced, and was thinking of rubies, but would like to be correct. What kind of gems do you think were original.
I have a scan of a very similar hilt from Z. Zygulski's Polish collection book but I can't make out the eyes (I don't have the original book).

Thanks
Jeff

Photo 1, My hilt
Photo 2, Zygulski's hilt

29th January 2005, 10:24 AM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Here is a detail. Attached Images

30th January 2005, 01:52 AM	#5
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi Jen, I have seen older hilts that have been modified by placing a guard on. The photo below is one, however the guard was subsequently lost. I make this comment only to illustrate that even if the screw is relatively modern the hilt still may be quite old. Jeff Attached Images

30th January 2005, 06:09 PM	#7
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi Jens, I am glad you asked about the eyes as I would like your opinion. I bought this one a couple years ago, and had the blade repolished. It has a nice pattern weld damascus. The eyes have a gummy substance that I think held in gems but they are long gone. I would like to have them replaced, and was thinking of rubies, but would like to be correct. What kind of gems do you think were original. I have a scan of a very similar hilt from Z. Zygulski's Polish collection book but I can't make out the eyes (I don't have the original book). Thanks Jeff Photo 1, My hilt Photo 2, Zygulski's hilt Attached Images

29th January 2005, 12:58 PM	#2
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Excellent pieces. Both of them. (Museum quality).

29th January 2005, 08:20 PM	#3
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Nice pieces Jen thanks for sharing them with us. Could the hand guard be a later add on? The one in Figiel's book seems to attach in two places so it is unlikely it screws on. I wonder if your hilt was made with out the guard and was added later as fashion or need dictated. Thanks again for bringing these pieces up. Jeff

29th January 2005, 10:45 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Jeff, I don't really know, but if the hand guard on mine was not bend so much, or the angle it was photographed in, was different it would also look as you describe. That Figiel has not commentet on it does not mean that the hand guars on his former sword, ccan not be screwed off, he might not have found it interesting, or maybe he did not even notice. It took me some time before I found out that it was loose. Jens

30th January 2005, 05:24 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Jeff, It is difficult to guess, but I will try anyway. To me it looks as if the guard has been cut off, this could mean that it has been broken – not reparable, or that the (new) owner did not like a guard. I have another hilt where the guard is missing, but here it is clear, that the guard must have been loose from the start, and must have fallen off. Loose guards can’t have been so seldom as many believe, although I do believe that most guards were forged to the hilt. Interesting hilt you show, are the eyes mountain crystal? Jens