Indian Sword to Share

[Jim McDougall]

Indian tulwars are a tough crowd.......it is really difficult to accurately peg them without significant provenance or detailed decoration which might signify region or entity likely associated. However experience and focused study helps, and though I am by far no authority, I have known those who are and learned a little.

This hilt form is I believe associated with Udaipur, a Rajasthan location and one of a number there where tulwar hilts were produced. It seems this type with elongated square langets and peaked midrif grip is likely end of 18th century probably even earlier.

These are typically associated with Rajputs, but in many circumstances certain clans allied with Mughals. The Talpurs in Sind were Shia and aligned with Persian courts much as Mughals, but these details I cannot speak to with any particular accuracy.

The point is that this example of one of these type tulwars is with heavy fighting blade, which seems more aligned with Northwest frontiers, likely Rajput, while my example (attached) seems more toward more Persian shamshir favor suggesting Rajput as perhaps in Talpur regions .

The gold flaking is likely remnants of koftgari. Note the sunburst type decoration inside disc, the sun is significant in Rajput clan leitmotif. The 'stem' also a Rajput favored feature.

So while primarily a Rajput favored hilt form, it might equally have been used by Sikhs, and frankly I have yet to find any specific detail on proper recognition of any certain weapon to Sikhs. When I once asked a Sikh on this...he wryly said, 'well, if a Sikh used it...it is Sikh' .