Good news /bad news Tulwar.

Jens Nordlunde · 3rd March 2007, 04:33 PM

If the scabbard belongs to the blade, and you say it does, then I see no reason why you cant show it here.
When you cleaned the blade, you removed the hilt, was the reason that it would be easier to clean the blade, or someting else?
In your mail #3 second picture it is easy to see that there is a little square plate nailed to the square of the hilt. Usually, if there is anything, it is a little silver flower nailed to the square, what is your little plate made of - iron?
Did the nail go through the blade?

Pukka Bundook · 4th March 2007, 02:12 AM

Jens,
Yes, The scabbard goes with this sword.
I will take some pictures and post them here as you suggest.

Re. the hilt, I removed it so I could clamp the blade down easier for the serious filing it required.
The little squares nailed to the square were very thin pieces of silver, and yes, the nail did go through the tang.
When I put the hilt back I thought of putting a little silver flower there.
Would this be wrong?
One of the little pieces of badly cut silver split when I was removing the nail.
The hilt may have been removed before when the broken knuckle-guard had been repaired in its working life.
Hopefully, I'll be able to post scabbard pics very soon!

Richard.

Jens Nordlunde · 4th March 2007, 10:18 AM

Richard,

I would put a silver flower where the plate was. It seems to me, that silver placed on the square of the hilt must have had a special meaning. If there is something, it is a silver flower with a diameter of 10-12 millimeters, and the fact that there was a silver square on yours could, like you write, mean that the hilt could have been taken off for some reason or other. They may have run out of silver flowers

, and used a little silver plate instead, but why a silver plate and not a little iron plate?

I know that someone on the forum has a tulwar with such a silver flower, but I don't remember where I have seen it – please show it and give the measures.

The blade seems to have a very long ricasso – how long is it?

Pukka Bundook · 4th March 2007, 01:40 PM

Jens,
Thank you for the suggestions re. the little silver flower.
It is a pity that we cannot find someone who remembers the reason for silver on the square!
Re. the ricasso, it is 3 3/4".......or about 96mm in length.

Best wishes,
R.

Jens Nordlunde · 4th March 2007, 02:32 PM

Richard,

That is quite a ricasso. On my tulwars the ricasso is 15-75 mm, and some of the blades does not have a ricasso, even the Indian made ones.

I will try to concentrate on the silver flower

, and see what I can find out.

Jens

Pukka Bundook · 5th March 2007, 02:26 PM

Jens,
I was unaware that the ricasso on this tulwar was unusually long.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

The fullers on the 'off side of the blade go right up to the hilt, yet on the right hand side end well back.
Was this to allow room for the owner to add his personal mark, or "doodlings"
Such as we see in this case?
(Obviously these 'scratchings are not professionaly done!)

Any information you could 'dig up' re. the flower would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again,
R.

Jens Nordlunde · 5th March 2007, 04:00 PM

Richard,

The blade is Indian, not European, and what you write about the fullers is really interesting, as this means that the 'doodlings' were planed before the blade was made, or the fullers would, no doubt, have been of the same length. If you plan a decoration like that, before or when the blade is being made, this decoration must have been important to the owner.

Yes, I will let you know, when I know more about the floral decoration.

Jens

4th March 2007, 02:32 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Richard, That is quite a ricasso. On my tulwars the ricasso is 15-75 mm, and some of the blades does not have a ricasso, even the Indian made ones. I will try to concentrate on the silver flower, and see what I can find out. Jens

3rd March 2007, 04:33 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	If the scabbard belongs to the blade, and you say it does, then I see no reason why you cant show it here. When you cleaned the blade, you removed the hilt, was the reason that it would be easier to clean the blade, or someting else? In your mail #3 second picture it is easy to see that there is a little square plate nailed to the square of the hilt. Usually, if there is anything, it is a little silver flower nailed to the square, what is your little plate made of - iron? Did the nail go through the blade?

4th March 2007, 02:12 AM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Jens, Yes, The scabbard goes with this sword. I will take some pictures and post them here as you suggest. Re. the hilt, I removed it so I could clamp the blade down easier for the serious filing it required. The little squares nailed to the square were very thin pieces of silver, and yes, the nail did go through the tang. When I put the hilt back I thought of putting a little silver flower there. Would this be wrong? One of the little pieces of badly cut silver split when I was removing the nail. The hilt may have been removed before when the broken knuckle-guard had been repaired in its working life. Hopefully, I'll be able to post scabbard pics very soon! Richard.

4th March 2007, 10:18 AM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Richard, I would put a silver flower where the plate was. It seems to me, that silver placed on the square of the hilt must have had a special meaning. If there is something, it is a silver flower with a diameter of 10-12 millimeters, and the fact that there was a silver square on yours could, like you write, mean that the hilt could have been taken off for some reason or other. They may have run out of silver flowers, and used a little silver plate instead, but why a silver plate and not a little iron plate? I know that someone on the forum has a tulwar with such a silver flower, but I don't remember where I have seen it – please show it and give the measures. The blade seems to have a very long ricasso – how long is it?

4th March 2007, 01:40 PM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Jens, Thank you for the suggestions re. the little silver flower. It is a pity that we cannot find someone who remembers the reason for silver on the square! Re. the ricasso, it is 3 3/4".......or about 96mm in length. Best wishes, R.

5th March 2007, 02:26 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Jens, I was unaware that the ricasso on this tulwar was unusually long. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. The fullers on the 'off side of the blade go right up to the hilt, yet on the right hand side end well back. Was this to allow room for the owner to add his personal mark, or "doodlings" Such as we see in this case? (Obviously these 'scratchings are not professionaly done!) Any information you could 'dig up' re. the flower would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again, R.

5th March 2007, 04:00 PM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Richard, The blade is Indian, not European, and what you write about the fullers is really interesting, as this means that the 'doodlings' were planed before the blade was made, or the fullers would, no doubt, have been of the same length. If you plan a decoration like that, before or when the blade is being made, this decoration must have been important to the owner. Yes, I will let you know, when I know more about the floral decoration. Jens