Indian firangi

length: 41"
blade: 35"
blade width: 1 1/4" at junction rivet
grip: 3 1/2"
guard: 5" x 4"
weight: 2 lbs

Circa 1680 firangi with European rapier blade, most likely English. The hilt is typical khanda style with a broad guard and disk pommel with short spike for extra grip. (divergent note - in the SCA, I've occasionally heard the arguement that buttspikes are documentable on one-handed swords, and the example usually given is "that Indian sword with the buttspike". It's not a striking or stabbing spike, it's a bit to put your left hand on for extra power in a cut - these were horseman's weapons, not meant for stabbing (interesting that they would convert a European rapier for this purpose, but here it is)). The word 'firangi' literally means foreigner (bat-faced or not), and these swords were termed such because most of the blades were rehilted European swords brought to India by the Portuguese. This sword has been lacqured for protection some time in the past.