Important 17th C. Mughal Tulwar with Kirk Narduban Wootz Damascus Kilich Blade

A truly beautiful sword. One of the largest Indian tulwar swordsI've handled, this example features a blade just under 35 in length and overall at 40. The blade is forged from deep and rich kirk narduban forged wootz with a hardened dark edge and overlaid with koftgari decoration signed Assaddulah, likely apocryphal, though the quality of the wootz and the forging is an indication of a highly skilled smith.

The overall shape of the blade is of an early Ottoman kilich with a hatchet point and with a sharpened double edge. The oversize and thickly gold koftgari overlaidhandle features an inscription in Devangari and is likely an incantation for luck.

By the style of hilt one could say this is a Rajput Mewar sword, however blades of this quality were more likely seen on Mughal swords, and I would place this in the 17th C, and of Mughal origin.

A crowing piece for any collection.