Tulwar has landed, I repeat, tulwar has landed.

DarthTaco123

DarthTaco123

Joined
Mar 28, 2013
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I've been waiting in the dining room until now, my first Tulwar has landed and I'm as giddy as a school girl after her first kiss. I can't find any markings, but it's got a nice (and I mean niiiice) fuller with a good false edge. It feels great in hand, fits me like a glove. The blade is sturdy in the handle, plenty of laha to go around. The issue right now: It's dull as sin. Would you all recommend I sharpen this up, and how? Would y'all know anything more about it? From the looks it might be from the Rajasthan region.
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Wow I don't know anything about them but that looks really nice. Pretty long too.

I'm kind of hung up on how you know what a school girl feels like after her first kiss though.

Personally I'd be tempted to sharpen it but I'm also feeling it might be best to leave as is. I'm anxious to see what some of the experts here have to say on the matter. Sharp would be good but maybe not the best idea.
 
Some things you just don't want to ask Bawanna. Well, this one time at band camp... I won't let it get any further than that. The blade as it stands crushes more than cuts, but that's due to it being dull. There's a bit of edge wear but the pictures make it look worse than it is. I'm loving the length on it, and it fits my hand great, I'll wait for the experts to state their opinion before i go ahead and do anything.

-Edit-
Found a bit of delamination towards the hilt as well.
 
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Wow, that's a beaut! What a beast of a blade.

Here's the advice I was given when it comes to sharpening: You bought it, it's yours, sharpen it if you want to. It's not a museum piece or historic artifact and it never will be (at least in our lifetime), so don't worry about "desecrating" it and do whatever makes you happy. If you do a sloppy job sharpening it you might decrease the value though.
 
I'll probably take the edge down just a bit more with a file, and follow suit with sand paper, and take my time. Right now it crushes more than it slices, so that'll need to be rectified. A shame there aren't any markings, but I'm sure it's old, and I THINK it's from Rajasthan. I'll go on swordforums and post it there too.
 
My tulwar has a convex edge that looks like it was done on a grinding wheel. But I do have other "ethnic" indigenous swords from Africa that were clearly sharpened on a file.

Is there any way you could take a less blurry photo of the fuller down by the hilt?
 
Awesome Darth! looks like you are all set to beat up some cardboard learning how to slash it. Agree with Blue's advice. If you are good at putting an edge on a knife go for it. If you are awful at it, well then you can either try a bit anyways or get someone to do it for you. I personally see no purpose to be served leaving it dull, that to me is like getting a CMP service grade Garand and sticking it in the closet. Take that puppy out and shoot it, or in your case hack up some boxes, and have fun.
 
I've worked it a bit with a 220-320-400 grit sand paper regime. Leaving for camp in a few hours so what better time to learn sharpening or box slaying? I couldn't manage a better picture, this shoddy iphone camera...well...yeah.
 
That fuller looks well within Indian technology to me, I rescind my presumption that this was a European blade.

Just 350 years or so an Indian blade would be better made, better forged, and better quality steel than the Euro equivalent.
 
I know if you get stains on that carpet you ain't gonna get much older yourself. Your wife will use that thing on ya.

I'm clueless as usual but I really like the looks of it.
 
Congratulations on your first tulwar. Judging by the pictures, it's a well-made sword and very sturdy, a real fighter.

My personal inclination would be to clean it up, take off the surface rust and sharpen it. Essentially bring it back to its original condition. However, I wouldn't make it "razor sharp" and I would leave the patina. It should end up looking like a seasoned veteran, not a fresh young recruit wearing a new uniform. :)

Do you have any idea how old it is?
 
I'd be inclined not to sharpen; for what purpose? That said, buy a new flat mill file and draw file the edges in long light strokes. You can blend the bright metal later with vinegar a la "frontier browning".
Just my two....


QUOTE=davidf99;13651526]Congratulations on your first tulwar. Judging by the pictures, it's a well-made sword and very sturdy, a real fighter.

My personal inclination would be to clean it up, take off the surface rust and sharpen it. Essentially bring it back to its original condition. However, I wouldn't make it "razor sharp" and I would leave the patina. It should end up looking like a seasoned veteran, not a fresh young recruit wearing a new uniform. :)

Do you have any idea how old it is?[/QUOTE]
 
Nice looking talwar-definately an Indian blade from the curvature and contours. All of the talwar I've handled that were in decent shape were very, very sharp as far as swords go-remember they're largely a draw cutting sword. Mine had very "bitey" edges- they wouldn't reliably shave hair (though they'd get a few) but they were very grabby on the cut. Brown ceramic gives a similar bite.
K P Moreau (the smith who taught me damascus and swordsmithing) had a very nice pattern welded talwar-he tried etching it but that didn't bring out the pattern. Finally burnished the blade with a hard steel burnishing needle and got a really beautiful finish.
 
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