- Joined
- Aug 17, 2003
- Messages
- 3,409
the checkering goes right up to the bolster and the pattern is consistent with it having been done prior to attaching the bolster the patina on the wood is constant and shows no change in color where the checkering cut into the wood. also no signs of over-run onto the bolster (scratches). the artisan was no novice. that leads me to think it was done as part of the original construction of the weapon. other members here and on another forum have confirmed it as ww2 era nepali, and possibly (based on the grip shape) Indian or Garhwalli construction {Dehradun area etc.}, in spite of the lack of any markings. the aluminum 'diamond' inlays are a bit cruder than the checkering, possibly added later or by a less skilled artisan. each diamond is slightly different as i found as i tried to duplicate the missing ones. i had a number of rejects 
i've been told that similar ones have appeared in nepal since ww2. the broad shallow central fuller is a bit unusual and was not apparent in the bay photos when i bid on it. someone more knowledgeable on nepali weaponry said had he known of the fuller, he would have bid and we would have had a race i might not have won. i'm glad i did win it tho.
i was up against stiff opposition (no-one else bid so i got it for the reserve) the earlier mentioned expert who has made a number of pesonal trips to nepal specificly for weaponry said he would have paid three times what i did had he known of the fullering.
specs: grip length 4 3/8 in., guard 2" x 1 3/8 oval (octagonal with rounded 'corners') brass, blade width at guard 1 3/8, 1.5 in. at start of upper edge, 'false' edge is not false, it's sharp & 3 in. long, total blade length 13.25 in. blade is a hair over 1/4 in. at the guard, there is a shallow fuller down both sides which is apparent in my photos. octagonal brass butt plate is 2 1/8 in. x 1 3/8 in. and is held by the peened tang. there is a gearlike or sunburst like washer of about 1/2 in. between the peen and the butt plate. weight (less scabbard) is 400 grams.
i've been told that similar ones have appeared in nepal since ww2. the broad shallow central fuller is a bit unusual and was not apparent in the bay photos when i bid on it. someone more knowledgeable on nepali weaponry said had he known of the fuller, he would have bid and we would have had a race i might not have won. i'm glad i did win it tho.
i was up against stiff opposition (no-one else bid so i got it for the reserve) the earlier mentioned expert who has made a number of pesonal trips to nepal specificly for weaponry said he would have paid three times what i did had he known of the fullering.specs: grip length 4 3/8 in., guard 2" x 1 3/8 oval (octagonal with rounded 'corners') brass, blade width at guard 1 3/8, 1.5 in. at start of upper edge, 'false' edge is not false, it's sharp & 3 in. long, total blade length 13.25 in. blade is a hair over 1/4 in. at the guard, there is a shallow fuller down both sides which is apparent in my photos. octagonal brass butt plate is 2 1/8 in. x 1 3/8 in. and is held by the peened tang. there is a gearlike or sunburst like washer of about 1/2 in. between the peen and the butt plate. weight (less scabbard) is 400 grams.
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