Punjabi Talwar (Tulwar)
Punjabi Sikh
Punjab, British India (Pakistan - India)
Mid- 20th century (ca. 1930 - 1947)
Steel, brass, wood, velvet, metal alloy
Blade: 61,6cm
Hilt & Blade: 73cm
Hilt, Blade, & Sheath: 81,3cm
Collection Date: 2016
Deaccessioned: 2024
Collection Number: 15

A talwar sword coming from the Punjabi Region of Northern India. The thick single- edged curved steel blade has a fuller spanning the middle half near the spine. Pointed tip. The end quarter of the tip has a false edge. 3/4 of the blade is acid etched in floral scrolls and meandering vines. On one side of the ricasso is a panel with floral etchings and "Made in India" in English. On the reverse side is more floral etchings with the Sikh invocation "Deg Teg Fateh" in Punjabi, meaning Victory to Charity and Arms. Brass hilt decorated in linear, floral, and circular engravings. The hilt has a crossguard with integral quillions and knucklebow. Disc- shaped pommel ending in a prong. Wooden sheath interior covered by blue velvet with gold embroidery and gold wire. Metal alloy mouth, chape, and baldric mountings. The mounts are decorated in cross-hatched lines with circular impressions in the center. The chape, in the form of British saber styling. The mouth and central mount have baldric ring segements.

This talwar was made in the Punjab near the end of the British colonial era, likely for the sale to returning British soldiers back to Europe around World War Two and shortly before the Independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 from British rule.

On a personal note, this is one of the earlier swords that helped start my collection.