- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Messages
- 230
To save a lot of typing I'll copy and paste the thread I just posted on British Blades so that you guys can see what I'm on about...
This area of the forum is far from my normal haunts, but I thought you guys who are "into" this sort of thing might appreciate a picture of a rather unusual sword I came across on my travels a couple of years ago.
I was travelling with my partner through the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan enjoying the scenery and cuture of the area (Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains) when we stopped for a day or two at Chitral. Having a local guide who literally seemed to know everybody in the entire country we were lucky enough to be allowed in to visit the palace of the old king of the region, an 800 year old mud-built fortress, not normally open for visitors at all.
Amongst the wonders of the insides of this remarkable building was this sword. It wasn't kept behind glass in some high security case. It was there on the side for you to admire. I asked about it, and the custodian drew it from the scabbard and showed it to us before handing it to me to inspect !
I'm certain that in almost any other part of the world this thing would be kept far, far away from the grubby fingers of stupid tourists, but I actually got the hold this thing of beauty, and to take a really close look at it !
I admired the blueing and gold work on the lower section of the blade. I admired the solid gold hilt. I marvelled at the craftsmanship of the Pakistani (although in the days when this was made he would have still been Indian) who could produce such a thing.... then I saw it........
On the ricasso was a symbol and and an inscription in gold that I recognised ! Two crossed blades and the words WILKINSON SWORD !
If you click on the picture until It's as big as it gets you can actually see the WI*****ON S***D of the inscription behind the gold of the hilt !
This area of the forum is far from my normal haunts, but I thought you guys who are "into" this sort of thing might appreciate a picture of a rather unusual sword I came across on my travels a couple of years ago.
I was travelling with my partner through the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan enjoying the scenery and cuture of the area (Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains) when we stopped for a day or two at Chitral. Having a local guide who literally seemed to know everybody in the entire country we were lucky enough to be allowed in to visit the palace of the old king of the region, an 800 year old mud-built fortress, not normally open for visitors at all.
Amongst the wonders of the insides of this remarkable building was this sword. It wasn't kept behind glass in some high security case. It was there on the side for you to admire. I asked about it, and the custodian drew it from the scabbard and showed it to us before handing it to me to inspect !
I'm certain that in almost any other part of the world this thing would be kept far, far away from the grubby fingers of stupid tourists, but I actually got the hold this thing of beauty, and to take a really close look at it !
I admired the blueing and gold work on the lower section of the blade. I admired the solid gold hilt. I marvelled at the craftsmanship of the Pakistani (although in the days when this was made he would have still been Indian) who could produce such a thing.... then I saw it........
On the ricasso was a symbol and and an inscription in gold that I recognised ! Two crossed blades and the words WILKINSON SWORD !
If you click on the picture until It's as big as it gets you can actually see the WI*****ON S***D of the inscription behind the gold of the hilt !
