Gun show find - Jezail?

Some Afghan accessories: A powder flask (one of the most common types), a belt knife, a fighting ax, and a rifleman's belt and pouches, and a horse whip, and pulwar sabre. All original (not tourist items) and still usable.

Rick

I knew Rick would come up trumps .The guns you find but accessories are hard to find . Pulwar or did you mean Tulwar?
Regards Rudyard

Rudyard said:

I knew Rick would come up trumps .The guns you find but accessories are hard to find . Pulwar or did you mean Tulwar?
Regards Rudyard

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Hi Rudyard

Collectors usually refer to the Afghan saber as Pulwar (there's a couple different spellings) and the Indian saber as a Tulwar. Each having different style hilts. But many of the blades for both were made in Northern India, or refurbished from European blades.

Rick

Those accessories are fantastic. Were the blades sharp? Many swords from different nations are rather blunt. Are the finer swords easy to recognize from the avg? Ive seen some swords like that in the past at shows. I will definitely be taking second looks now. I would like to learn more so i can tell the difference between tourist trade stuff and the real weapons.

In the film The man who would be King with Michael Caine and Sean Connery, Kipling played by Christopher Plummer. makes an appearance in the film. The three have some scenes together and i have always liked the masonic password they share. “ We have met on the level .. And We shall depart on the square.”

Are jazail comfortable to shoot?

Mr T,
Tulwars and pulwars are usually still pretty sharp, and were very sharp when carried and used.
It is not unusual to find the suspension rings on the inside of the curve, so that even though the sword is cased in wood, it rides on the spine to protect the edge.
In the book Sahib, the author mentions the Sikhs delivering sword blows with a "Hissing sound" In other words, giving the blow all they had.

Another first hand account in the same book states that in a cavalry charge againt British cavalry, the Sikhs would lay on their horses neck as they passed through the British line, being protected by the thick pugaree on their heads, and a buffalo hide shield on their backs.
As they passed through the British rank, they rose up in the saddle, and turning, delivered a hard back-hand blow to their opponents.
The first hand account mentions an office next to the writer, who with such a blow was cut clean in two from shoulder to hip by such a blow.
The sword cut also severing his cartridge box of ammunition that was on his back.

Bushfire said:

Are jazail comfortable to shoot?

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Since they & people vary its hard to say only one I had can't recall it easy or hard so probably was easy. Some had thin very curved stocks I suppose they had natural absorb ion of recoiling .( You want ungainly stocks try Petronels !).
Regards Rudyard

Bushfire said:

Are jazail comfortable to shoot?

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Much of the recoil is absorbed by the palm of the hand and some with the shoulder. You will notice the grip at the wrist area is very thick. When you grip this area, if you're right handed, your 4 fingers will be pointing outward, to the right of you. It's really strange when you first try it. LOL
Curve of the stock: The reason for this butt stock design has been debated for many years. My theory is that it was designed to carry under the arm pit while traveling - and wanting the gun in a "ready to use" position should the need arise. The sling being used for travel when a threat was not anticipated. Notice as the butt stock travels to the rear, the thickness of the stock reduces and becomes thinner. If you cup the stock under your arm pit, it is quite comfortable to carry. But it can also make for a weak point in the butt stock.

Rick

Bushfire said:

Are jazail comfortable to shoot?

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Difficult to answer I had no bother & umpteen thousands got made so they wouldn't seem to me difficult to use. You want weird try the Indian & Cingalees ones . Some very curious stock shapes .
Regard Rudyard