Zulfiqar (split-bladed sword)

Culture Indian

Culture Punjab , northern India (Sikh)

Datehilt late 1600s, blade 1800s

Mediumsteel, gold, silver

Dimensions92.7 × 64.8 × 8.5 × 12 cm (36 1/2 × 25 1/2 × 3 3/8 × 4 3/4 in.), 3 lb, 4 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.60

DescriptionSawtoothed single-edge, curved blade with yalman similarly treated terminating in point. Blade widens near point & is split perpendicularly to plane of blade from point ending in circle approximately 1/3 length from point. Gold koftgari flora & calligraphy along rear edge of blade & in "tree"-shaped mark on obverse of blade.

Heavy khanda hilt terminating on both faces of blade in flattened trefoil. Remains of tinned surface and apparently gilding. Rounded "V" crossguard forming tapering knuckle guard with small discoid pommel with long grooved spike slightly curved forward. Blade is secured with a large irregular rivet through the languets, suggesting compositing.
Label TextThis weapon is typical of the blending of Islamic and local traditions in South Asia. The curved blade is characteristically Islamic, and the cloven tip alludes to Zulfiqar, a legendary cleft-bladed sword associated with Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali. The hilt, with its distinctive knuckle-guard and end-spike, is typically Indian. The sawtooth edge adds to the weapon’s menacing appearance, though in reality the size and shape of the blade make it impractical for actual combat.ProvenancePurchased by Museum on May 14, 1935 from Kano Oshima (NYC). Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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