A silver-hilted sword with 'z'-pattern welded blade, North India, 19th century

the curved watered-steel blade with rounded back edge and fine zig zag Kirk Narduban pattern welding, the silver hilt elongated at the forte with rounded pommel carved in the form of a lion's head with flowing mane and cobra-form knuckle guard hanging from its teeth, the quillons terminating in the form of ram's heads, chiselled floral motifs to the square and grip 

In very good overall condition, blade clean and sharp, as viewed.
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The turbular formed grip leading up to the pommel in the shape of a lion's head and the quillon tips worked as rams' heads are characterestics of eighteenth century talwar swords based on earlier Persian forms. Subtle variations in the proportions of the hilt are often the only guide to the origins of a particular talwar. This one was most probably made in the early nineteenth century based on the europeanised style of the hilt, and can be traced to Northern India, in the style adopted by the Punjabi and Rajput cutlers (See Rawson 1967, p.162, pl.70).

The particular pattern on our blade is characteristic of the Oriental Damascus steel and is called Kirk Narduban pattern otherwise known as 'Mohammed's Ladder' (See Figiel, p.80, fig.28a). Our sword seems to have a unique variation of the Kirk Narduban and was set in as a zig-zag motif. Islamic warriors considered war with their enemy a holy and sacred duty whereby the Faith of Islam was defended and propagated by the sword. Use of the sword especially the one with 'Mohammed's Ladder' became the vehicle whereby entry to paradise was assured. 

The steps to reach the desired design include filing or scoring the almost completed blade in the desired pattern, then reheating and re-hammering it to an even surface. When polished and etched, it exposes the realigned cementite crystals in the shape of the pattern introduced in the scoring process (SeeTirri 2003, p.456, fg.323). The production of fine Damascus blades stopped in the mid-nineteenth century and this fact along with the style of the hilt would indicate that our sword dates to the early nineteenth century. This sword is a rare example of Mughal and Indian blademakers' technical skills.