A RARE SOUTH INDIAN SWORD (KHANDA), 17TH CENTURY with broad double-edged blade swelling to a 'Cobra's head' tip and etched with a watered pattern over its surface (probably an early association, small chips), engraved steel hilt formed with a pair of shaped langets decorated with scrollwork extending over almost a third of the blade's length on each side, the portion at the forte widening and down-curved with blade-catching lugs, dish-guard formed of a pair of curved D-shaped panels of V-section, the outer surface engraved with expanded flowerheads, up-turned cup-shaped pommel fitted with a small internal dome, moulded button on a rosette washer, and integral grip ((areas of pitting), 79.2 cm blade

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