Indian Tulwar sword with embossed steel hilt and knuckleguard

 Indian tulwar sword dating to the late 18th/early19th century. This example has a nice steel hilt which has been forged with intricate interlaced pattens to the surface, here and there can be seen traces of red lac in the recesses giving a suggestion of what the original appearance would have been. This feature of red lac is sometimes seen on early south indian swords and can help give us an approximate date and region for the swords origin. This sword has a knuckleguard to the hilt to protect the hands, the blade is of good curving steel, with faint suggestions of wootz patterning although this is unverified. Nice old patination overall, 18th/19th century