{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O452618"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O452618/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MN4578/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MN4578/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MN4578","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O452618/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O452618","accessionNumber":"3310:1/(IS)","objectType":"Combination weapon","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Combination weapons were both objects of curiosity and showcases for the ingenuity of the maker. Many combination weapons combined the growing popularity of firearms with an already proven and familiar weapon design, in this case a <i>khanda</i>, one of the most ancient sword designs in India. \r\n\r\nIn Europe and Asia from the 1500s there was an explosion of innovative and unusual designs produced to incorporate this new technology, often sponsored by heads of state. Henry VIII was an enthusiastic patron of new weapons technologies but their popularity seems to have been universal.  \r\n\r\nAfter the conflicts in India between the British and the French during the Seven Years War, new firearms technology was enthusiastically studied and adopted by many Indian rulers. This weapon incorporates a 19th century percussion lock mechanism developed in the early 1800s. Percussion locks were popularly used in sporting weapons because the detonating cap propelled the bullet faster without the delay, noise and smoke of match and flintlock guns which tended to startle the quarry. In Europe pistol swords were used to hunt wounded wild boar.","physicalDescription":"Straight damascus steel blade <i>khanda</i> with an Indian basket hilt from which projects a small pistol barrel over the back of the blade. The trigger mechanism is located inside the guard","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"forging (metal forming)","id":"AAT54033"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Forged steel decorated with gilt","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MN4578"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES389836"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES389836"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Combination weapon","id":""}],[{"text":"Combination weapon sheath","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Jodhpur","id":"x30320"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Transferred from the India Museum in 1879","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"As originally arranged and displayed in Exhibition Road Indian Museum galleries until 1955, with some additions while in storage, case F.700","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pistol sword with a straight sword blade <i>khanda</i> with Indian basket hilt from which projects a small pistol barrel over the back of the blade, Jodhpur, 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 110, Cat. No. 407"},{"reference":{"text":"Egerton, Wilbraham, <i>An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India</i>, London, 1880","id":"AUTH353483"},"details":"p.110","free":""}],"production":"Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["3310:1/(IS)","3310:2/(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"3310","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Egerton Catalogue Number","id":"THES50387"},"number":"407"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Combination weapon","Combination weapon sheath"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}