Talwar Saber / Sword - trying to identify date/hallmark

Posted 12 years ago

lostone777
(45 items)

When I bought this, I was told it is a Talwar Saber. I am looking for assistance in identifying the approx. year it was made/hallmark. Thanks.

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Chrisnp, 12 years ago
Yes, this is a talwar, A traditional weapon throughout India. I usually collect European stuff, but since the British were in India, I’ve read a little about Indian swords too. The talwar design hasn’t changed much in hundreds of years, so you might try to have someone who really knows Indo-Persian swords to give you a rough guess when this was made. I haven’t seen that mark before – but that does not mean it’s rare – There’s lots of stuff I haven’t seen. Older ones would be hand forged, sometimes mixing powdered iron and charcoal to re-carbonize the iron. This may leave a wavy look to the surface of the metal. Also traditionally, the sword is fixed to the handle by lac paste (as in shellac) or tree resin. I’d look for these features, because there are a lot of modern made talwars hammered out by village blacksmiths, or even old blades refitted for the tourist market. Scabbards were usually cloth covered wood, which would deteriorate, so it’s not unusual that the scabbard may be much newer than the sword.

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Talwar Saber / Sword - trying to identify date/hallmark In Military and Wartime > Swords > Show & Tell and Asian > Indian Antiques > Show & Tell.
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