Maker: Unknown
The steel blade is straight, double edged and virtually triangular, extending into a long, thin point with a slight medial ridge. The hilt is of katar form, with a broad, concave guard attached to short, wide arms joined by a pair of bars swelling to their centres that form the grip. These are of similar proportions to the grips of contemporary khanda. At the front of the guard are heavy triangular reinforces secured to the blade by three rivets, and decorated with a section of cusped and scalloped edge accompanied by pierced holes. From the outside of the guard springs a much damaged defence for the back of the hand, of deep V-section and terminating in a stylised dragon head finial. Riveted to the ends of the arms is an additional guard, also of V-section, from which spring two sinuous guards which extended to the front of each bar. One of these is broken, but either end survives. The hilt is covered with black paint, the blade and reinforces polished bright and pitted from earlier corrosion
History note: From Ganjam. Probably from the Tanjore armoury, broken up in 1860 (see documentation Elgood 2004)
Given by Robert Taylor, MA
Blade Length: 81.5 cm
Overall Length: 95 cm
Weight: 950 g
Method of acquisition: Given (1879) by Taylor, Robert, MA
16th Century
Circa
1500
CE
-
1600
CE
This type of sword is very different to most swords as the grip is at right angles to the blade, and not a continuation of the blade. It was held in the hand and used a thrusting fashion. The blade is very tapered and ends in a long, thin point, ideal for stabbing attack. The back of the hand is protected by an additional plate which has a dragon headed finial.
Blade composed of steel
Inscription present: adhesive
Accession number: O.90-1879
Primary reference Number: 158405
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Sword" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/158405 Accessed: 2024-07-27 00:51:32
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/158405
|title=Sword
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-07-27 00:51:32|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-158405
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