Testing Tarwar, cutting.

Ankerson

Ankerson

Knife and Computer Geek
Joined
Nov 2, 2002
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It was a nice day yesterday so I figured it would be a good day to do some cutting with the Tarwar.

The cutting medium was fallen trees that were leftovers from the Ice storm we had. Branches up to 4" were cut with no damage at all to the sword. I made about 30 cuts, a few were not perfect form but the Tarwar didn't take any damage.

The edge held up very well, still very sharp, no damage or dulling.

Excellent, very strong sword.:D

It will take alot of abuse, cutting tree branches with a sword is dangerous (And not a good thing to do) so if you don't have any training be very careful.

The handle needs to be about 1 1/2" longer for me, 10" is just too short for comfort, but I did fine with it.

After I got it done I cleaned it up and was very pleased to see the magic stone finish on the blade wasn't scratched at all. :)

Good job.:D
 
Jim, I tried the same thing with my Himalayan sword (same as Tarwar?) I received a couple of weeks ago. My results were just as good. I'm no swordsman, and I was being EXTREMELY careful. I cut up fallen pine limbs. One was about 5" in diameter. Not sword work, but these are not normal swords. One thing I noticed was how easy they were to aim. Again, I'm not an experienced cutter, but the blade would often strike exactly the same place time after time.

Since my test cutting, I have put a full convex zero grind on my horn handled sword. I'm almost scared to use it now.

These are tough, heavy swords. I can't imagine the damage they would do if you made a mistake. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

Steve Ferguson
 
Originally posted by ferguson
Jim, I tried the same thing with my Himalayan sword (same as Tarwar?)
Steve Ferguson
Click to expand...


Yes it is the same sword.

I was impressed with the cutting ability of the Tarwar, even though the blade spine is thicker than I would like. It doesn't slip through the cutting medium like a Katana does.(What I am used to using)

It cuts very well indeed.:D

AND YES YOU CAN GET HURT IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL.

I found that I could swing through about 2" of wood with no problem, 3" most of the time in one stroke.
 
Here is a pic of my Tarwar.


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Ank, you might try one of these methods of shortening your grip for the handles: I'm assuming you're using a right hand near the guard, left near the butt grip.

1. Trigger grip - When you grasp the sword with your right hand, shift your hand forwards so that your index finger actually goes over and around the guard. Might feel unnatural at first, but it is a common Asian Sword-art trick for blade stablity (for thrusting especially but cutting works as well). This grip makes it nearly impossible for the sword to be wrenched from your grip, even if someone was trying to pull it from your hands.
I wouldn't hit hard targets in this grip unless I was wearing some thin leather gloves, at least until you get used to it. If you already have some good hand callouses, you may not need to worry. You can round the edges of the guard for comfort, if you like the grip.

2. Rear hand stabilized grip - "Pinky pommel" --When you grasp the sword with your left hand, roll the pinky up (like making a fist, then unroling all fingers except the pinky) and grasp with three fingers and thumb, with rolled up pinky finger snugged up against and under the butt of the pommmel. This Asian sword trick enhanced the stability for thrusting, and gave a slightly longer reach for duelling.

If you use grip one and two in conjunction, you can get up to two inches more grip with less space, and you will have a more stable grip of the sword.

Studies of ethnographic weapons and their uses by their folk shows that many small handled weapons of the world were this way because of the different grip employed by the user. The small handles khuks of the 19th c. and the tarwars of India, and the small handles of viking swords dredged from the Thames suggested to historians at first that these were childrens weapons or some such nonsense, but the modern approach is to suggest that there are many ways to hold and use a weapons with a shortened leverage-improved grip.

Happpy cutting!

Keith
 
Originally posted by Ferrous Wheel
Ank, you might try one of these methods of shortening your grip for the handles: I'm assuming you're using a right hand near the guard, left near the butt grip.

1. Trigger grip - When you grasp the sword with your right hand, shift your hand forwards so that your index finger actually goes over and around the guard. Might feel unnatural at first, but it is a common Asian Sword-art trick for blade stablity (for thrusting especially but cutting works as well). This grip makes it nearly impossible for the sword to be wrenched from your grip, even if someone was trying to pull it from your hands.
I wouldn't hit hard targets in this grip unless I was wearing some thin leather gloves, at least until you get used to it. If you already have some good hand callouses, you may not need to worry. You can round the edges of the guard for comfort, if you like the grip.

2. Rear hand stabilized grip - "Pinky pommel" --When you grasp the sword with your left hand, roll the pinky up (like making a fist, then unroling all fingers except the pinky) and grasp with three fingers and thumb, with rolled up pinky finger snugged up against and under the butt of the pommmel. This Asian sword trick enhanced the stability for thrusting, and gave a slightly longer reach for duelling.

If you use grip one and two in conjunction, you can get up to two inches more grip with less space, and you will have a more stable grip of the sword.

Studies of ethnographic weapons and their uses by their folk shows that many small handled weapons of the world were this way because of the different grip employed by the user. The small handles khuks of the 19th c. and the tarwars of India, and the small handles of viking swords dredged from the Thames suggested to historians at first that these were childrens weapons or some such nonsense, but the modern approach is to suggest that there are many ways to hold and use a weapons with a shortened leverage-improved grip.

Happpy cutting!

Keith
Click to expand...


I have heard of that grip before, but I never found I liked it much so I don't use it.;)

I will get by fine with it, I just adjust my swing to deal with the short handle.
 
Jim, Your's is the twin to mine!. I also have one with the wood handles, just to keep each other company.:)

Steve
 
Originally posted by ferguson
Jim, Your's is the twin to mine!. I also have one with the wood handles, just to keep each other company.:)

Steve
Click to expand...

Cool Steve. :D
 
Originally posted by Ankerson
Here is a pic of my Tarwar.


attachment.php
Click to expand...

I'm a bit confused here. This photo doesn't look anything like the single-edged "BirGorkha Tarwar" with the big, wide blade. It looks more like the Tibetan. And I can't find anything on the HI website sword page called "Himalayan". What's am I missing here?
 
HI has had several styles of tarwar in its 14 years of business. Ankerson's tarwar is the latest rendition of the blade style, while the one on the website is from approximately three years ago. (I should know, it's mine :D). If you're interested in acquiring a tarwar from Uncle Bill I would specify which one you want.
 
ichor,

Yes, my Tarwar is one of the Xmas Tarwars.:D

36.5" OAL.
 
What is the best way to get a sword razor sharp.

Can it be done using a "Norton India Oil Stone" ?. If so what is the best technique to use ?

Brendan
 
Originally posted by Brendan
What is the best way to get a sword razor sharp.

Can it be done using a "Norton India Oil Stone" ?. If so what is the best technique to use ?

Brendan
Click to expand...


If you are going to be cutting with a sword, you really don't need or want a razor sharp edge. Technique will out do a razor edge everytime.


Remember we are talking about a sword here, not a knife.....;)
 
Okay Ank

What's the best thing to do to keep/make it sharp.

I dont know a thing about sharpening a sword.

Please help before I kill meself !!!

;)
 
Originally posted by Brendan
Okay Ank

What's the best thing to do to keep/make it sharp.

I dont know a thing about sharpening a sword.

Please help before I kill meself !!!

;)
Click to expand...


Just touch it up with a diamond file, 2 or 3 strokes down each side of the edge....

Then see if it cuts paper....if it does then it is sharp enough.


Be carful...
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
The kamis call any sword a tarwar and that contributes to the confusion.
Click to expand...


You might be right there Bill.:D
 
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