NAYAR TEMPLE SWORD

Variant form. 17th century or earlier. All iron with a tapered flat blade, pierced along the back for an ornament or jingle with crescent form tip and cleft base. Figure eight form guard as found on khandas. Iron hilt with cylindrical grip and triple layer disk pommel with captive noise making rings. Blade mounted in an elaborately scalloped and fretted support as found on firangis. Shows great age with oxidation and minor losses throughout. 27 1/2" total length. The Nayars were an elite group of warriors drawn from noble backgrounds which served at will (mercenaries) with legendary dedication. Dating is speculative but examples invariably show particularly great age with some deterioration supporting a 16th-17th Century attribution.