Thepulwar orpulouar (پلوار) is a single-handed curvedsword originating inAfghanistan.
The pulwar originated alongside otherscimitar-type weapons such as the Arabsaif, the Persianshamshir, the Turkishkilij, and the Indiantalwar, all of them ultimately based on earlier Central Asian swords.[1] Originally, the Khyber Knife (a type of short sword) served as the weapon of the common people while upper-classes could afford to import swords from neighbouring Persia and India. Over time, the Afghans combined characteristics of the imported swords and adapted it to create the pulwar. Most existing pulwars date back to the early 19th century.
Borrowing features from the swords of neighboring lands, the pulwar may be described as an Afghan version of the Indiantalwar. Pulwar blades tend to be more elaboratelyfullered than those of the talwar. Some pulwar hilts were fitted toPersian blades which are slimmer and more curved and tapered towards the tip than the more typically robust pulwar blades. Thehilt is characterized by twoquillons which are short and turned to point in the direction of the blade in the manner of some shamshir and saif, a feature typical of swords produced inQajar period Iran. Like the tulwar, the hilt is made of iron, and is attached to the tang of the blade by a very strong adhesive resin. Unlike the flat disc surrounding thepommel of the tulwar, the pommel of pulwar exhibits a cup-shape.[2] Both hilt and blade can be ornately engraved with inscriptions, designs, and images.