RSword Antique Blades

Fantastic and Rare Carved Ivory Moro Jungayan Barong hilt. This is one of the finest carved ivory handles (one of the few carved ones I am aware of) for a Moro barong that exists. It is a very large handle measuring 7” from the top of the handle to the very bottom. The top of the pommel is huge. It measures 6 1/8” from crest to beak and it is 1 3/8” at its widest point. Each side of the grip and the top of the pommel has very good deeply carved scenes. The sides of the grips with scrolling vine carvings and the top with bamboo and leaves. The style of carving is very Chinese. There are a couple of restorations that are done so well you couldn’t tell unless you looked extremely closely at it. Likely the hilt of a wealthy Chinese-Filipino Datu.

Very good Indian Kirach Sword with Wootz Blade. This sword measures 35 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is in an Indian Khanda basket hilt style of iron with thick gold leaf. Inside the guard and knucklebow is old padding that is missing some of the outer threading for about 50% revelaing the padding inside. The small, round grip wrapped in a green velvet. The long pommel spike on top completes the handle ensemble. The blade is single edged with a bevel with the addition of a sharpened edge on the spine side from the point of the strapping on to the tip. The forte and a good portion of the spine is covered with a backstrap that is also covered in heavy gold leaf. The blade is forged of wootz steel with a vibrant pattern of dark color with just a few dark spots on both sides. The edges are polished bright. The scabbard is a wood core covered in red velvet with a metal chape with gold leaf. The leafing on the scabbard chape not the same quality as the leafing on the handle and blade strapwork so likely a later replacement. A very fine sword.

Silver mounted Ottoman Kilij sword with early wootz blade. This sword measures 37 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard and in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the top of the handle. The handle consists of rhino horn slabs with very good patina, held with two rivets on each side, and with eyelet in the pommel to hold a lanyard. The tang band is silver with nice floral decorations all throughout. The cross guard is silver, nice and wide with border decorations. The scabbard is all silver mounts with decorations around the borders and the top and bottom mounts with additional decorations at both the top and bottom of the mount. The center portion of the scabbard is covered in leather with fine coil stitching to the reverse. All in very good condition with just some dents and dings to the silver as to be expected. While the handle and scabbard are likely late 18th to early 19th century the blade appears to be older. Likely a 17th century blade judging by is shallow curvature, yelman with dimple and long false edge. The blade is also forged of wootz steel showing a nice pattern. The blade also has some double grooves on each side. The wootz pattern is consistent and of very good activity. There are some areas of oxidation and a few minor microscoping pitting. A very fine and complete Ottoman Kilij sword with early style blade.

Quality Indian Shamshir with Wootz and Gold Koftgari handle. The sword measures 36” when measured in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the top of the pommel. Superb Tulwar style handle of wootz steel with fine thick gold koftgari around the borders and on the quillons. The wootz in the handle is bold and active and has a darker coloration. The shamshir blade in bright polish and shallow curvature. It is likely of crucible or wootz steel as I can make out the faint shadow of a scarf weld which usually indicates a wootz blade forged onto a homogeneous steel ingot although I have seen examples where it is forged onto another piece of wootz steel. The blade has moderate curvature, and the cutting edge is quite sharp on this one. Most likely a late 18th to early 19th century sword.

Indian Tegha sword with silver koftgari handle and gold inscriptions on blade. This sword measures 29 1/2” in total length when measured in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the top of the pommel. The handle is iron with thick silver koftgari overlay. The koftgari is done is a floral pattern. Some minor wear to the grip and most of the silver intact below the grip. More heavily worn on the knuckleguard. The blade is a thick, heavy tegha blade. It is forged of pattern welded steel with the patterning visible upon close inspection. The thick spine has 3 inscriptions. The first long one translates to “O Prophet of God, take your victory through God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Victory is from God, and a near triumph”. This is a battle blessing asking for divine victory. The middle inscription roughly translates to “What God has willed has come to pass”. The third inscription on the spine translates to “Victory from God”. On the surface of the blade are two cartouche with inscriptions over a house shaped deep stampe that is covered in gold. The inscriptions on the blade line up with those on the spine. The top cartouche roughly translates to “What God has willed” and the lower cartouche translates to ‘Help from God and a victory is near at hand”. A fine Indian Tegha sword with battle invocation related inscriptions.

Massive Indian sword with gold koftgari hilt and stamped blade. This huge sword measures 41” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle, likely from Udaipur, is large and covered in fine gold koftgari work. The gold work is about 97% there and the floral and vine patterning is quite nice. The blade is absolutely massive. The blade is 35” long and it is 2” wide at the forte. It holds a 1 3/4” to 2” width through most of the blade until it tapers down to the tip. There is a deeply stamped marking at the forte. It appears to be a trisula stamping. A number of Rajput states used this marking and the inscription around the trisula is worn a good bit. These inscriptions are often the name of the Maharajah or a deity reference. Blade is likely 18th century with the handle and scabbard late 19th century. The blade does have some areas of pitting. Edge is quite sharp. The scabbard is lovely. The wood core is covered with a purple cloth or silk brocade of floral patterns. Some dirt and staining but generally in good condition. The chape is iron covered in gold koftgari. Nice thick gold work with floral and vine patterns matching the pattern on the hilt. A big man sword for sure.

Fabulous Persian Battle Axe with Wootz blade and twisted and pattern welded shaft. This axe measures 31 1/2” from the bottom of the shaft to the top of the pommel. The blade measures 8 1/2” from side to side and is 4 1/2” from the block to the cutting edge. Each side of the axe blade is deeply chiseled depicting 6 seated figures amongst the floral and foliage. The border of the axe has gold koftgari work. There is a carved floral decoration that splits the uncarved blade sections bordered by gold koftgari. The surface of the axe blade is wootz steel. The pattern is bold, easily visible and fairly consistent throughout both sides. The block has a chiseled lion and antelope and the sides with additional chiseled floral scenes with gold koftgari borders. The shaft is a work of art. You have alternating sections of twisted and spiral steel with gun barrel shaped faceted pattern welded steel.. The pattern welding in those two long sections is high quality and both the faceting and shape of these sections as well as the style of the pattern welding reminds me of fine gun barrels. Might have been made by a similar craftsman. The entire axe is solid steel, not the hollow steel you see in late Qajar pieces. This is a substantial axe and likely dates to the late 18th to early 19th century and just about as good as it gets.

Persian sword with gold decorated mounts and a snake chiseled in high relief on the wootz blade. This sword measures 37 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is iron that is covered in a heavy gold leaf. The handle on both sides is carved and depicts numerous birds and some floral decorations. Even the pommel takes on the eyes and beak of a bird. The scabbard mounts are matching in that they are also heavily gold leafed with bird motifs. Makes me wonder if this might have been the sword of a falconer. Not uncommon though to find bird motif in Persian decorations. The blade is lovely. The blade is forged of wootz steel. The pattern is a lovely dark wootz pattern and for about three quarters the length of the blade a snake has been chiseled in high relief on both sides. There is a kaskara in the Met Museum in New York that has a wootz blade with a chiseled snake in high relief. At the base of the blade on one side are two cartouche with gold inlaid inscriptions. The scabbard is leather over wood with the gold leafed iron mounts. A very fine sword.

Very good long silver and ivory mounted Laotian dha sword. This long sword measures 44” in total length. The handle consists of a long tusk shaped ivory handle with nice decorated silver ferrule and decorated silver cross guard. The blade has a fairly thick spine and is more narrow at the forte and widens some towards the tip before narrowing back to the point. The scabbard is completely covered in deeply carved silver with multiple animal depictions amongst the floral and vine decorated background. A very nice and quite large Laotian dha sword.

Very good silver and ivory mounted Laotian dha dagger. This knife measures 22 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a tusk shaped ivory section with nicely carved silver ferrule. The blade with thick spine and is narrower at the forte and center of the blade before widening and then having a strong taper to the tip. The scabbard is silver with lovely carved floral decorations. Nice, braided rope baldric attached to the top scabbard mount.

Superb Indian shamshir with deeply chiseled handle and scabbard. This sword measures 35 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is brass and deeply chiseled in a floral and vine pattern. The pommel wheel is also deeply carved. Even the pommel cap and nut are deeply carved or decorated. Some of the finest carvings I have seen. The curved blade is forged of wootz steel. The pattern shows in a wood grain pattern. The blade is more narrow and lighter than normal so not a fighting blade but a nice compliment to the superb, chiseled handle and scabbard mounts. This sword was meant to be a prestige piece. The scabbard has matching deeply chiseled mounts. The carvings matching the handle in a fine floral pattern. There is also a long-carved border down the central portion of the scabbard with deeply chiseled floral decoration. The open section in the middle is covered in a green velvet. The hanging bands are carved in matching style to the pommel nut on the top of the handle. An absolute quality piece. Kutch, India - late 19th century.

Fine Indian Khanjar Dagger with Makhara Handle and Wootz Blade. This dagger measures 15” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is likely copper with a heavy gold leafing. The pommel is a makhara with curled lip, exposed teeth and small protruding tongue. The eyes are inset with a green stone or glass. The handle with floral decorations throughout. There are a few spots of green patina which is the copper base metal patina showing through in a few small spots. The blade is forged of crystalline wootz steel. The pattern is very tight and active. One side of the blade has a little bit of cloudiness from the forging process. Very fine gold koftgari is applied at the forte of the blade on both sides. The scabbard has a wood core. The center section is covered in a blue velvet. The top and bottom mounts on the scabbard are matching the handle. They are also probably a copper base metal covered in a heavy gold leaf with floral decorations. A very fine Indian dagger.

Heavy and thick Indian kard dagger with quality wootz blade. This knife measures 17” in total length when measured in its scabbard. This is a very heavy and thick kard dagger. The handle consists of two slabs of mother of pearl. One side has a solid slab of MOP. The opposite side with two pieces placed together. There is a black horn spacer beneath the grip slabs. There is a steel tang band that runs between the grip slabs. The bolster is steel. The blade is forged of a high quality wootz steel. The blade has a very active and bold pattern that shows some ladderesque features. The blade is very clean with just some minor scabbard wear. The scabbard has a wood core with leather covering and a silver alloy chape. The knife fits deep into the scabbard. A quality Indian dagger with a great wootz blade.

Large and impressive Indian Zirah Bouk dagger. This knife measures 17 1/4” in total length. The handle is very interesting. It features ten facets/grooves around the handle. It is likely forged of damascus steel as there are hints of pattern in the grooves. Large metal bolster. The blade is forward curving with a thickened 4 1/2” section at the tip of the blade. This thickened section with a prominent medial ridge. There is also a beveled edge along the edge towards this thickened section. The bolster and forte with silver koftgari done in floral decorations. The blade is likely a crucible steel as I see hints of pattern in the blade. A great and quite rare Indian Zirah Bouk dagger with unusual and unique handle.

Fine Persian Battle Axe with Swan Finial and Wootz Blade. This axe measures 26” in total length. The axe head with square poll and crescent shaped blade. The top of the axe with a steel swan. The square block on the back is chiseled with a rabbit. The sides are chiseled with birds. The axe head is forged of wootz steel. The pattern is evident upon close inspection. The shaft is steel and faceted. It is decorated with silver koftgari. The decoration is worn. The shaft is solid. There are a couple of wrinkles in the metal but overall the shaft holds firm and solid. A great Persian battle axe.

Very Fine Persian Battle Axe with Superbly Chiseled Wootz Blade. This axe measures 25 1/2” in total length. The crescent shaped axe head is forged of wootz steel. The pattern is evident upon close inspection. The blade on each side is superbly chiseled with an Arabic inscription within a field of foliage. The sides of the poll are deeply chiseled as is the square block. The sides with foliage and the block with a picture of Persian nobility. The shaft is steel and solid. There is one section where it has rusted. A very fine Persian battle axe.

Moro Saber Sword with very rare blade profile. This sword measures 25 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a wood grip with braided twine wrap and a wood Kakatua pommel with lovely patina. Very rare blade profile. The blade is double edged but then transitions to a saber style tip. So one cutting edge runs straight from the fretwork to the tip. The other cutting edge runs straight from the silver asang-asang and then angles to the tip like a saber blade tip would be shaped. There are twin narrow fullers on each side. The blade exhibits a fine “hamon” above and below the fuller with some faint lamination showing throughout the blade. There is also good old oxidation and a couple of nicks along the cutting edge. Very fine elephants trunk and fretwork on the opposite side. The scabbard is a thick wood. The top piece is held to the bottom piece with some string and rattan. Very fine textile wrap at the top of the stem. There are some chips and some losses to the wood on the scabbard but overall it is holding firm when the blade is inserted. This is an old Kris. Probably mid 19th century. With a very rare blade style to boot.

Very fine Spanish Filipino Colonial Period Bicol Sword with massive thick blade. This sword measures 21 1/4” in total length. The handle is a dark carabao horn with faceted and carved grip depicting fine floral decorations and an animal head pommel with curling lips exposing big teeth, narrow set eyes and ears. Tall pommel nut on top. The ferrule is brass and faceted to match the grip. The blade is a thick and heavy blade with a step down spine that rolls into a clipped point. Very sharp edge. Quite a rare sword of the Filipino Spanish Colonial period.

Very nice Filipino Visayan Tenegre sword with abstract pommel. This sword measures 24” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of an iron ferrule that is faceted to match the facets of the grip and pommel. The pommel is done in an abstract monster head. Similar swords often have the monster head carved out in great detail but this example takes on the shape but is abstract as it doesn’t show any features like the eyes, mouth, etc. Very sharp blade. The blade is flat on one side and the opposite side with a very strong beveled edge. The spine side drops into a strongly angled false edge. A bevel has been added to the false edge. Very sharp point. The scabbard is wood with a leather throat and brass bands. A superb fighting sword.

Very nice Ottoman shamshir with gold work on handle and wootz blade. This is a long shamshir measuring 38 1/4” in total length when measured in a straight line from the top of the pommel to the tip of the blade. The handle consists of rhino horn slabs and a steel tang band that is covered in very nice gold koftgari. There are a few bug nibbles to the grip mostly on one side. The cross guard is quite nice, is steel, and has a lovely gold koftgari decoration on most of the surface area. The pattern is en suite with the tang band. The curved blade is forged of damascus wootz steel. The pattern is consistent and shows as a flowing, wood grain type pattern. There is remnants of a cartouche on one side but only the cross hatching remains. A good quality Ottoman shamshir.