Katana wrote:Moin,
Do follow up with Leo Figiel's 'On Damascus Steel'. This gentleman went on a treasure hunt in north west India in the '70's and '80's and bought up most of the good pieces directly from families who had had them for generations. This book is a compendium of some articles in his collection. It is a rather contemporary photo essay than a sermonsing treatise on swords. Also it makes a superb reference guide.
katanji, these books are so hard to find !!. Thanks a ton.. I'll try and source this
Katana wrote:Jaiwant Paul also co-authored a book called 'Indian Arms and Armour'. I have been trying to chase this but have yet to lay my hands on it. Would appreciate if you could give me a copy of the one that you have.
About a well balanced sword, the general rule of thumb in Gujarat and Rajasthan is as follows: take the sword and place the spine with the edge pointing up on your two index fingers somewhere along the center. Now try to move both the fingers towards the opposite sides, one towards the distal the other towards the hilt. If the sword remains upright it's balanced, if it falls to either side it's not.
About the 'leheriya' and 'nav durga', here is a photograph of the original articles. In this, the two curvi-linear swords are from Sirohi, the khanda from Mewar. Note the hilts, one of them in the 'Ganga-Jumna' style with both silver and gold ornamentation.
Do follow up with Leo Figiel's 'On Damascus Steel'.
katanji, these books are so hard to find !!. Thanks a ton.. I'll try and source this
Katana wrote:I agree with the fact that pricing and the cost of these articles are on the up side, but once in your possession they tend to grow on you. I look at them also as works of art and it is this fact that endears them to me.
Katanji, totally agree, you only get to live once
Katana wrote:BTW, I spoke to the sakligar yesterday to put the elephant head hilt and cover it with gold 'warq'. I don't know as yet how much it's going set me back by but I'll take your suggestion for that. The 'myaan' will be covered with blood red velvet that I selected last week when I visited him.
Wow, I'm sure this project will turn out to be exqusite piece....
Katana wrote:Jaiwant Paul also co-authored a book called 'Indian Arms and Armour'. I have been trying to chase this but have yet to lay my hands on it. Would appreciate if you could give me a copy of the one that you have.
Katanji this is a really wonderful book, such indepth research on the Indian Sword, right from the Indus Valley Civilisation to the present day.....Absolutely fascinating read as to how the modern incarnation of the Indian Sword has evolved over time with influences right from the Greek Swords to the Persian Shamsheer. I'll find another copy for you, if not available I'll send you a good quality xerox..
Another book which is very good reference on the subject is
In fact Jaiwant Paul has made several reference is Indian Arms and Armour from this book. This is availble at my local Landmark Store.. I'll pick this one up in a day or two..
P.S: Is it normal for the Khanda to have the Talwar type of hilt, instead of the traditional Hindu Box Type of Hilt with the Cloth padding and the spiked Pommel ? Also the extension of the cross guard which reinforces the spine is missing and that run two-thirds of the length of one edge and a short way up the other is not there. Also maybe it's just photogrpahic distortion but the Khanda to me seems slightly curved ratehr than being straight. The tip is like a traditional Tawlar too. Is this a variation of the Khanda from Mewar ?
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Katana wrote:About a well balanced sword, the general rule of thumb in Gujarat and Rajasthan is as follows: take the sword and place the spine with the edge pointing up on your two index fingers somewhere along the center. Now try to move both the fingers towards the opposite sides, one towards the distal the other towards the hilt. If the sword remains upright it's balanced, if it falls to either side it's not.
Thanks so much, this is very useful infrmation. I'll test it out today !!!!!
Katana wrote:About the 'leheriya' and 'nav durga', here is a photograph of the original articles. In this, the two curvi-linear swords are from Sirohi, the khanda from Mewar. Note the hilts, one of them in the 'Ganga-Jumna' style with both silver and gold ornamentation...
The Hilts are absolutely gorgeous, can't wait to see the finished results.....
Best Regards
Moin.