Indian Zulfikar Sword

Rare ‘S-shaped’ Zulfikar Sword with Gilded Silver Over-laid Hilt

Zulfikar swords are relatively rare and this example is unusual even among zulfikars on account of the pronounced curve of its double-edged steel blade. As with other zulfikar swords, this example has a bifurcated or split end. One edge is saw-like; the other is not.

The blade is stamped on both sides with either a maker’s mark or an armoury stamp, which includes the date ‘1709’.

The iron or steel hilt is overlaid with silver and silver-gilt in stylised Mughal-inspired poppy designs. The hilt includes a concave pommel which similarly is decorated on the top and underside.

Overall, the sword is heavy in the hand.

A less ornate example of a zulfikar is illustrated in Tirri (2003, p. 331).

Tirri, A.C., Islamic Weapons: Maghrib to Moghul, Indigo Publishing, 2003.

US art market