| Talwar | |
|---|---|
18th-century talwar, with typical disc-hilt and knucklebow. |
|
| Type | Sword |
| Place of origin | Indian Subcontinent |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Introduced to India by Arab and Turkic invaders, the sword has been utilized by the Turkic Sultanate of Delhi, the Mughal Empire and various other peoples and states, including: Marathas, Rajputs, and Sikhs. |
| Production history | |
| Produced | Early types from ca. 1300, the classic form from ca. 1500 to present. |
| Specifications | |
| Blade type | Single-edged, curved bladed, pointed tip. |
The talwar (Urdu, Pashto: تلوار, Hindi: तलवार, Marathi: तलवार, Panjabi: ਤਲਵਾਰ) is a type of curved sword or sabre from India and modern-day Pakistan. The word is also spelled talwaar and tulwar.
Contents |
The talwar originated alongside other curved swords such as the Arab saif, the Persian shamshir, the Turkish kilij and the Afghan pulwar, all such swords being originally derived from earlier curved swords developed in Turkic Central Asia.[1]
The use of talwar became more widespread under the Mughal Dynasty who were of Turko-Mongol origins. The Mughal Emperor Akbar is known to have built large foundries producing the best quality sword blades; Akbar himself is known to have preferred Damascus steel talwars, which were considered the sharpest blades ever used in battle in South Asia.[2]
The blade profile of the British Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre is similar to some examples of the Mysore talwar utilized by the forces of Tipu Sultan,[3] and expert opinion has suggested that the talwar, due to its effectiveness and successful use in battle in the Indian subcontinent, may have contributed to the design of the British sabre.[4]
Though strongly influenced by Middle Eastern swords, the typical talwar has a wider blade than the shamshir, and lacks the expanded yelman (false-edge) of the kilij. Late examples often had European-made blades, set into distinctive Indian-made hilts. The hilt of the typical talwar is termed a "disc hilt" from the prominent disc-shaped flange surrounding the pommel.[5] The pommel often has a short spike projecting from its centre, sometimes pierced for a cord to secure the sword to the wrist. The hilt incorporates a simple cross-guard which frequently has a slender knucklebow attached.[6] The hilt is usually entirely of iron, though brass and silver hilts are found, and is connected to the tang of the blade by a very powerful adhesive resin. More ornate examples of the talwar often show silver or gilt decoration in a form called koftigari.
The talwar was used by both cavalry and infantry. The grip of the talwar is cramped and the prominent disc of the pommel presses into the wrist if attempts are made to use it to cut like a conventional sabre. These features of the talwar hilt result in the hand having a very secure and rather inflexible hold on the weapon, enforcing the use of variations on the very effective "draw cut". The fact that the talwar does not have the kind of radical curve of the shamshir indicates that it could be used for thrusting as well as cutting purposes. Unlike some similar blades which have a very radical curve at the lower half of the blade - which make them very good slashing weapons but limit their use as a thrusting or cutting blades - the talwar can be used effectively for all three purposes either by mounted warrior or by foot soldier. The blades of some examples of the Talwar widen towards the tip. This increases the momentum of the distal portion of the blade when used to cut; when a blow was struck by a skilled warrior limbs could be amputated and persons decapitated.[7] The spike attached to the pommel could be used for striking the opponent in extreme close quarter circumstances when it was not always possible to use the blade. The talwar is held with fore finger wrapping around the lower cross guard. This weapon is still used for talwar zani or matam e talwar, (Arabic: tatbir) Shiite Muslim self-flagellation, on 10th of Muharram, marking the martydom of Imam Hussain. Today, the word talwar literally means sword or dagger in the majority of languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent.