Moplah (sword)
Encyclopedia
The Moplah is a sword used by the Muslim population in the Malabar Coast
in southwestern India.
The Moplah sword has been used since the 17th Century, both as a weapon and a tool. It was involved in several uprisings, including the Moplah uprising of 1921-22 against the British colonialists.
has a light, wide and double-edged blade which is broader near to the tip, and runs slightly concave. The blade is polished smooth, with no hollow-ground. In some versions, the blade has a strong middle section, which extends up into the tip.
The hilt
is made of carved wood, horn or bone. The pommel
is often covered with a metal disk. At the transition between the blade and hilt, decorations are often found, of traditional or religious significance in most cases.
The blades are about 35 cm long, at the widest point about 10 cm wide and the sword has a total length of about 60 cm.
The sword was without a scabbard
, being held in a wide belt worn on the back
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast is a long and narrow coastline on the south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing mountain...
in southwestern India.
The Moplah sword has been used since the 17th Century, both as a weapon and a tool. It was involved in several uprisings, including the Moplah uprising of 1921-22 against the British colonialists.
Description
The Moplah swordSword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
has a light, wide and double-edged blade which is broader near to the tip, and runs slightly concave. The blade is polished smooth, with no hollow-ground. In some versions, the blade has a strong middle section, which extends up into the tip.
The hilt
Hilt
The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard,grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A ricasso may also be present, but this is rarely the case...
is made of carved wood, horn or bone. The pommel
Pommel
Pommel may refer to:* pommel, the raised area at the front of an equestrian saddle.* Pommel, the counterweight at the end of the hilt of a European sword* Pommel horse, an artistic gymnastics apparatus...
is often covered with a metal disk. At the transition between the blade and hilt, decorations are often found, of traditional or religious significance in most cases.
The blades are about 35 cm long, at the widest point about 10 cm wide and the sword has a total length of about 60 cm.
The sword was without a scabbard
Scabbard
A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade. Scabbards have been made of many materials over the millennia, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel.-Types of scabbards:...
, being held in a wide belt worn on the back