This very early sword is coming from the Deccan or South India. A long slender single edged blade with slightly up-raising yelmen tip. Steel handle with a creature shaped pommel, may be a dragon or a wolf, a styled bird head at the back side of the pommel and a steel D guard with a similar smaller size tip. Two I grip sectors.

Blade 30 1/2 inches (78 cm). Total 37 inches (94 cm). Good condition to age. Repair and minor pitted spots on the blade. The I sectors may be a later replacement.

Very rare and early, 16 C. sword. Very few 4 or 5 similar exemplars are known.

For a similar sword see: Robert Hales "Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armor" p.64 item 134

For a dagger with a very similar handle see: https://oriental-arms.com/product/rare-16-c-chillanum-style-dagger

Provenance: Roy Elvis collection Catalog number C101