Martial activities in 18th-century Indian art
By Harjit Singh Sagoo
South Indian cobra tip sword
An early fighting piece with strong reinforcing langet and broad, cobra shaped tip.Punjabi khanda for court of Ratlam
The hilt carries an inscription dating it to 1841.Fine 17th century pattissa
The enormous blade made of fine, boldly contrasting wootz steel.South Indian pattissa
An early example, late Vijayanagara empire, with a fine wootz spatulate blade.Khanda with etched blade
A 19th-century type with an etched blade, simulating patterned steel.Hindu basket hilt
A type of Indian closed hilt design.Early Indian khanda
An early version of this iconic Indian weapon, with its characteristic swollen tip.Khanda (खंडा)
A type of Indian sword with a heavy, straight blade that widens at the top.Chiseled iron Hindu basket hilt
With blackened iron panels with decorative borders carved in relief.An exceptional khanda
With wootz blade and wootz Hindu basket hiltLarge all-steel khanda
Introduction
The khanda represents one of the oldest forms of Indian swords, it's pr