Tegha Pulouar (Pulwar)
Emirate of Afghanistan (Afghanistan) - British Raj (India, Pakistan)
Mid- 19th century
Steel, gold
Blade: 69,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 82,6cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2020
Collection Number: 128

Ex. Williamsburg, Virginia, USA Private Collection (2020)

This pulwar sword is from the borderlands between Afghanistan and India. It incorporates both Afghan and Indian influences with components of an Afghan style hilt and an Indian blade. The hilt is of all steel construction, the guard of downward turned quillions, with a fluted disc shaped pommel and spike.

The blade of this sword is very impressive due to its heavy weight, reinforced spine, and its downward balance to cut. Its single- edged steel blade has an Indian ricasso with the blade form commonly known as tegha. Anthony Tirri describes similiar blades with Indian yelman as the term "gaddara" in his book "Islamic Weapons Maghrib to Moghul," though this term is practically unheard of elsewhere. The spine is heavily thickened until the last 1/4, where it becomes a false edge. A deep fuller follows the spine, while a single broader fuller is forged in the center.

The gold koftgari is a more recent adaptation (20th century) to the sword, a technique often used on old Afghan and Indian weapons to "improve" their value to imitate genuine sought after examples. This kofgari is an attribution to Safavid Shah Sulayman (r. 1666 - 1694), and translates "Sulayman Safavi." Nevertheless, the blade of this sword is extensively well made, balanced and truly an impressive chopper.

The sword was purchased with another sword from the collection of a foreign service officer (CIA) who purchased it in the Middle East (very likely during the War in Afghanistan) from a weapons dealer who obtained it from a private estate. No other detailed information was given.

Photograph 11: “Group of Afridis at Jamrud (Jamrud Fort, Khyber Pass), 1866”.
Photograph 12: “Afghan Trophies, Peiwar Kotal”, November 1878.
Both, from an album of photographs of the Second Afghan War by John Burke (ca. 1843 - 1900), Sir Benjamin Simpson (1831 -1923), and others. They show similar pulwar swords from historical accounts.

• Tirri, Anthony C. “Islamic Weapons Maghrib to Moghul”. 2003. Page 316, Figure 238 (Gaddara description)