Editing Talwar (section)

==Use==
The talwar was used by both [[cavalry]] and [[infantry]]. The grip of the talwar is cramped and the prominent disc of the pommel presses into the wrist if attempts are made to use it to cut like a conventional sabre. These features of the talwar hilt result in the hand having a very secure and rather inflexible hold on the weapon, enforcing the use of variations on the very effective "draw cut". The fact that the talwar does not have the kind of radical curve of the shamshir indicates that it could be used for thrusting as well as cutting purposes. The blades of some examples of the talwar widen towards the tip. This increases the momentum of the distal portion of the blade when used to cut; when a blow was struck by a skilled warrior, limbs could be amputated and persons decapitated.<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Louis Nolan |last=Nolan |first=L.E. |title=Cavalry: Its History and Tactics |orig-year=1853 |publisher=Bosworth |edition=Pallas Armata facsimile reprint |year=1995}}</ref> Because of this attribute, the talwar was also used for [[Capital punishment|executions]] in some regions. The spike attached to the pommel could be used for striking the opponent in extreme close quarter circumstances when it was not always possible to use the blade. Due to the presence of a blunted [[ricasso]] the talwar can be held with the fore-finger wrapped around the lower [[quillon]] of the cross guard.{{sfn|Jaiwant Paul|1995|p=46}}