Page 169 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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Blade decorated
▼ HEAVY CAVALRY SWORD The single fuller (groove along the back with silver inlay 18TH-CENTUR
Date 1750 of the blade) on this long, straight, heavy
cavalry sword indicates that the blade
Origin UK
was single-edged. While the heavy
Weight 3lb (1.36kg) cavalry used swords such as this, the
Length 3 ⁄4ft (1m) light cavalry favored a curved blade. Y SW
1

Broad, forward- ORDS
Hilt made curving blade
of horn

▲ AYUDHA KATTI The ayudha katti, or the Indian
Date 18th century moplah sword, was used by the
Muslims in the Malabar Coast of
Origin India southwestern India. It was developed
1
Weight 2 ⁄2lb (1.15kg) from an implement used to cut
1
Length 23 ⁄2in (59.5cm) through dense undergrowth.
Blade flattened
toward tip
▲ CAVALRY This cavalry trooper’s sword was Leaf-frond
TROOPER’S SWORD probably manufactured for the East patterning in gold ◀ NIZAMS’ TALWAR
Date 1770–1790 India Company, an English enterprise Date 18th century
formed in 1600 for trade with Asian Origin India
Origin UK
countries. The sword’s overall length, Weight 2 ⁄2lb (1.1kg)
1
1
Weight 2 ⁄4lb (1kg) including the hilt, is 40in (102cm).
1
Length 32 ⁄4in (82cm) Length 37 ⁄4in (94.9cm)
1
The blade inscription on this Indian
talwar, or curved sword, suggests
that it was made for the Nizams of
Hyderabad, Muslim princes who ruled
part of southern India from 1724.

Silver-covered hilt
Narrow fuller on
back of blade

▲ NORTH AFRICAN SAIF This nimcha or saif (Arabic words ▼ HALF-BASKET This half-basket cavalry sword is
Date Late 18th century for sword) is of a type made in CAVALRY SWORD single-edged and marked “Gills
North Africa—a part of the Ottoman Warranted”: the manufacturer
Origin North Africa Empire from the 16th century— Date c.1780 Gills of Birmingham was a major
3
Weight 24 ⁄4oz (700g) and in parts of Arabia associated with Origin UK supplier of cavalry swords in
1
Length 33in (83.5cm) Yemen and the Hadramaut. Weight 2 ⁄2lb (1.1kg) the late 1700s.
1
Length 36 ⁄4in (92cm)