Indians For Guns

Hi,
Can anybody help with identifying the sword in the center of the attached photograph.

Thanks,

Akshay

Asingh wrote:Hi,
Can anybody help with identifying the sword in the center of the attached photograph.

Thanks,

Akshay

sword photo.JPG

Its a traditional Khanda with a serpentine blade. There were khandas that actually had broad tips that were shaped like the head of a snake. Not very practical for use in war. I guess these were made for presentation.
In Malayasia this kind of blade is called a Kris. Its almost a symbol of that country.
Welcome on board Asingh. Please introduce yourself in the introduction section.

Cheers
TC

Asingh wrote:Hi,
Can anybody help with identifying the sword in the center of the attached photograph.

Thanks,

Akshay

sword photo.JPG

Hi Akshay;

A very warm welcome to IFG. May i ask where have you taken this pic. The talwar in the centre is a very unique variation of the Nagin Talwar or serpentine shaped blade in Indo Persian Type Edged weapons. This Talwar was also part of the maratha arsenal where it was called Jamdaad.
This particular example seems to be of Indo Persian origin looking at the Lahori type of hilt and not a Jamdaad.

Even c
For a nagin the way the serrations are on the blade is unlike I have ever seen. Its a very unique example although by the looks of it is rotting away to glory on someones wall....

Regards
Moin.

Thanks for your replies. Have seen a few examples of the nagin type of blades in books and museums, but haven't seen one like this anywhere so was curios to know if it had a specific name. It belongs to our family (from Maksudpur in Bihar) and we have a few typically Maratha weapons (Maratha Patta), but didn't know this one could have a Maratha connection.

Have attached pictures of some of the other weapons from the display.

Thanks again,

Akshay

Super display ... A lil more love n TLC for the heirlooms.

TC wrote:

Asingh wrote:Hi,
Can anybody help with identifying the sword in the center of the attached photograph.

Thanks,

Akshay

sword photo.JPG

Its a traditional Khanda with a serpentine blade. There were khandas that actually had broad tips that were shaped like the head of a snake. Not very practical for use in war. I guess these were made for presentation.
In Malayasia this kind of blade is called a Kris. Its almost a symbol of that country.
Welcome on board Asingh. Please introduce yourself in the introduction section.

Cheers
TC

Hi TCda,

The Khanda you are referring to are these with the typical hindu box hilt type.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4571

http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s1058_full.html

This is what appears to be a double edged Nagin Talwar albeit a very unique one...

Regards
Moin

Asingh wrote:Thanks for your replies. Have seen a few examples of the nagin type of blades in books and museums, but haven't seen one like this anywhere so was curios to know if it had a specific name. It belongs to our family (from Maksudpur in Bihar) and we have a few typically Maratha weapons (Maratha Patta), but didn't know this one could have a Maratha connection.

Have attached pictures of some of the other weapons from the display.

Thanks again,

Akshay

photo (1).JPG

photo (2).JPG

My gawd, hurts to see these in these condition. Can I request when ever you get time please take some better pictures and share in the forum.

Also what you have is an examples of the Khyber Salawar also called as Karud. These belong to the Afghan Churra family of blades and are larger i.e to be used as a short sword. Flat ground, single edged and with a T Spine for the chain mail peircing Indo Persian Pesh Kabz type blades...

Please see these links.

http://atkinson-swords.com/collection-b ... istan.html

http://www.higgins-collection.org/artifacts/3280

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... C05602.JPG

Regards
Moin

Thanks Moin,

As you know well, Indian swords are not my expertise That's your forte brother
That's the most I could do.

Cheers

TC

I have medivel Kirpan called Karamati tulwar,Tegha and of course flexible khanda I will soon post pics.

Hi Moin,

Thanks for those links. Would be grateful if you could point out the best way to restore some of these weapons. These and a few muzzle loaders were last cleaned and coated with some varnish many years back. That seems to have worn out and they have started to rust again. Some of our better swords are kept greased and used for puja during Dussehra, but these have been on display since a very long time. I'm guessing we should but them in some sort of air tight display cabinet post restoration.
Will be back home in a few weeks and will post some better pictures.

Many thanks,

Akshay

Hi,
I have attached some pictures of the Nagin sword after some scrubbing and waxing. Also a picture of the Khyber knives and the rest of the display.

Best wishes,

Akshay

Check out the following post for some basics on restoring old blades
https://www.indiansforguns.com/viewtopi ... =22&t=3084

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Yes the middle one is nagini talwar. Above weapons could be fairly old. Maybe few centuries old or have some history attached to them.

Why a serpentine shape was given? Following reasons come to the mind -

The serpentine weapon is a metaphorical symbolization of a poisonous snake that can cause quick death. Serpentine appearance imparts unusual and intimidating look to the weapon, possibly causing some psychological fear or panic in the unconscious part of the mind of opponent. In case of stabbing action, such curved blades would surely cause wider wound channel. Means quick blood loss, causing quick death to the opponent. Thus the weapon living up to its metaphorical symbolization with a poisonous snake causing quick death.

For the same length of construction, more metal is required. Means more weight to the weapon. Means more momentum while stabbing or slicing, especially when used against armor clad opponent. Similar weapon called nagni barcha(serpentine spear) was used by General Bachittar Singh to wound an armor clad, drunken elephant set loose to break the doors of a fort during the second battle of Anandpur in Punjab, fought between the Sikh forces on one side and combined forces of the Hill Rajas(of present day Himachal Pradesh) and the Mughals around 1704 A.D. Just search the internet for "nagni barcha" or "second battle of Anandpur". Since there is a well settled historical precedent of the use of serpentine weapon to wound armor clad elephant, I disagree with the view that serpentine shaped weapons were for ceremonial use only.

This called Nagani sword but it has litle role in fighting real weapon with extraordinary speed is GOLIYA SWORD. Then Sirohi the sikh sword 3.75 feet
with smaller handle can cut through tree.