Rare 18th C. South Indian SUKHELA Rapier with flamberge wootz blade

A very uncommon and rare type of Indian sword called a Sukhela. These were usually called firangi since they would be made with foreign rapier blade. This example is essentially an Indian rapier, with a long thin and hard blade of fine black Persian kara taban wootz, with very fine definition all throughout, in the shape of a flamberge style, which is its original forging as can be seen the blade cross section and general proportions.

The handle is in the khanda style with a small appendage to be used as a two handed sword. Very fine original condition.

Overall length is 42", blade is 35".