Tulwar questions

K

Krav Dragon

Joined
Sep 7, 2004
Messages
64
I hope that this is the right forum to ask… I have a craving for a very nice tulwar, which I recently saw for sale at a show. I am no expert in Middle Eastern/Indian weaponry, but I can recognize quality when I see it. Sorry, I have no pictures, but I’ll try to describe the particular sword – It had a steel hilt whit some kind of chequered pattern inlaid with silver, and a beautiful blade with nicely executed filework along the spine and a very subtle raindrop-type forging pattern. Overall it was in great shape, but the scabbard was missing. I first thought that the blade was from wootz steel (up to this point I had only seen wootz steel in pictures), but after doing some research I now believe that may have been mechanical damascus. What do you guys think judging by the raindrop pattern? Wootz doesn’t appear to have any particular pattern, right? Which one is considered “better” or more valuable? Mechanical damascus or wootz?

What could a nice sword like this be worth? (Would it be worth around 900$? It’s a lot of doe for me right now…) Help me out here – I am a poor student trying to convince my GF not to throw me out if I buy this… Need some good arguments… :D

Thanks
/Botond
 
Given the pattern, it's more likely to be pattern-welded steel rather than wootz...

It's hard to judge the worth of a sword without pictures or context... Do you have a date on the blade? I've seen tulwars in good condition for less than $500, but these were 18-19th century pieces. Pattern welded steel has its advantage in perceived aesthetics, but I think that wootz would be more valuable financially, as well as having mechanical properties that pattern welded steel doesn't.

If it's worth $900 to you, how's this for an argument: Some of your ancestors were from the Middle East, and you're honoring your heritage. How can you put a financial limit on that? Of course, you'd have to be pretty smooth to pull that one off... time to pull out that inner drama queen, I say.

:)
 
Sorry, no pictures... :(
But they said that this piece is from the 18-th century. Didn't the tulwar evolve in the 17-th century? That would make this a semi-old piece.

It'll be hard to pull the old "honour my ancestors" routine AGAIN. I am originally Hungarian, but I have ALLREADY honoured a long line of "Japaneese ancestors", "Indonesian ancestors" and my much beloved "American relatives"... :foot: :p :D
 
Any chance you could have the sword appraised?

Barring that, it seems you'll just have to go with your gut... At least with antiques, it'll be hard for anyone to come out of the woodwork and say, "Hey, I got that for $30 at Best Buy..."

Just to put it all in perspective, I'm about a year out of college, and I still don't know where most of my money went. Hey, how about this: "Honey, a few of my friends and I were out drinking last night... I woke up in a ditch, and my wallet, with $900 in it, was gone. Will you hold me? Oh, that sword over the fireplace? <insert accomplice here> gave me that. Pretty cheap thing, but you know, sentimental value and all..."
 
Difficult to advise without a picture, but would say beware for two reasons.

1. they are actively copied and it could be brand new, but aged.

2. They often have hilts designed for small hands, so if you want to wave it about every now and then .... it might end up as a wall hanger.

See if your local library has a copy of Stones Historic Weapons Through the Ages. (title from memory, my copy is in storage).

If it is genuine, 900 bucks is a lot of money, but you aren't going to lose on it in the long run. Tell the GF it is an investment for your joint future (and buy her some flowers). :thumbup:
 
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