Talwar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Talwar | |
|---|---|
 A Talwar from 18th century, with typical disc-hilt and knucklebow. |
|
| Type | Sword |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| Used by | The Sikhs, The Rajputs, The Sultanate of Delhi, the Mughal Empire, including Muslims, the Marathas and others. |
| Production history | |
| Produced | Early types from ca. 1300, the classic form from ca. 1500 to present. |
| Specifications | |
| Blade type | Single-edged, curved bladed, pointed tip. |
A talwar, talwaar, or tulwar (Hindi: तलवार, Urdu: تلوار, Bengali: তলোয়ার) is a type of curved sword, equivalent to the European sabre (or saber), originating in medieval India dating back to at least the 13th century.
Contents |
[edit] Characteristics
The talwar is an Indian sword influenced by the Persian shamshir and the Turkish kilic. The difference between them is that the blade of a talwar is wider than the blade of a shamshir, and lacks the expanded yelman (false-edge) of the kilij. Due to its growing popularity in the Mughal Empire, the talwar was also produced in 19th Century Afghanistan in form of the "Afghani talwar," or pulwar. Late examples often had European-made blades, set into distinctive Indian-made hilts. The hilt of the typical tulwar is termed a "disc hilt" from the prominent disc shaped flange surrounding the pommel.[1] The pommel often has a short spike projecting from its centre, sometimes pierced for a cord to secure the sword to the wrist. The hilt incorporates a simple cross-guard which frequently has a slender knucklebow attached.[2] The hilt is usually entirely of iron, though brass and silver hilts are found, and is connected to the tang of the blade by a very powerful adhesive resin. Superior examples of the tulwar often show silver or gilt decoration in a form called "koftigari."
The talwar may have largely replaced the unique khanda sword of ancient India as the sword of choice in medieval Indian armies. Sikh warriors continued to wield the khanda, a dedicated cutting sword, in battle and it is often used in Gatka a Sikh martial art. The khanda became the weapon of last resort. But the tulwar was more frequently used. India also has several unique bladed weapons, entirely native to the subcontinent. The distinctive looking Indian wootz steel was known across Asia as uniquely flexible and strong, and was used to construct many of these weapons.
[edit] Use
The talwar was used by both cavalry and infantry. The grip of the talwar is cramped and the prominent disc of the pommel presses into the wrist if attempts are made to use it to cut like a conventional sabre. These features of the talwar hilt result in the hand having a very secure and rather inflexible hold on the weapon, enforcing the use of variations on the very effective "draw cut." Talwar is used by some South Asian Shiite Muslims for Matam on the Day of Ashura.
[edit] Influence
The blade profile of the British Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre is similar to some examples of the Indian tulwar, and expert opinion has suggested that the Indian sword may have contributed to the design of the British sabre.[3] The fact that the Talwar does not have the kind of radical curve which the Persian Shamshir has and it has a wider blade prooves that it could be used for slashing as well as thrusting purposes. The pike attached to the pommel could be used for striking the opponent in extreme close quarter circumstances when it was not always possible to use the blade.
[edit] See also
- Khanda
- Firangi
- Katara (कटार)
- Pulwar
- Pata
- Urumi
- Aruval
- Chakram
- Qama
- Khanjar
- Saif
- Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre A British military sword
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Evangelista, N. and Gaugler, W.M. (1995) The encyclopedia of the sword. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313278962
- Robson, B. (1975) Swords of the British Army, Arms and Armour Press.
