Sword with straight blade with rounded tip, with three grooves in the blade. With ?silver handle and cross-guard, circular pommel and a ring through the very end. [El.B 04/09/2007]

Collection type: Object
Description: Sword with straight blade with rounded tip, with three grooves in the blade. With ?silver handle and cross-guard, circular pommel and a ring through the very end. [El.B 04/09/2007]
Geographical reference: India
Asia > Southern Asia > India; Southern India Kerala Karnataka Malabar
Person: Field collector Frederick Fawcett; PRM source Frederick Fawcett
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1920
Date collected: August 1917
Acquisition information: Donated: 1920
Materials and processes: Material Iron Metal, Material Silver Metal, Process Forged (Metal)
Dimensions: Length: max 670 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1920.55.13
Research and responses: The talwar has one full or true edge on the convex side, and a ‘false’ or partial edge on the distal third of the back edge. Comparison of this blade form with European cavalry sabres reveals how closely European cavalry modelled their weapons on Indian sword forms. The distinctively Indo-Muslim talwar hilt form with knuckle-guard is known as Delhishahi, although it does not indicate a Mogul origin. The talwar was the most widely and numerously distributed Indian weapon form (Egerton, 1896: 104), due to the widespread influence of Rajput Maharajas. Talwar were historically conceived by Rajput men as the embodiment of their honour, commitment and agency; Egerton (1896: 105-6) remarks on two of the commonest Rajput oaths – ya sil ka an (‘by this weapon’) and dhal talwar ka an (‘by my talwar and shield’). Talwar were an integral part of the weaponry displays in Rajput rulers’ Silleh-Kana armouries. Research Conducted for DCF Cutting Edge 2006/2007 [AM].

Search terms: Weapon, Sword

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