Victorian Era North West Frontier Pesh-Kabz Choora / Khyber Afghan Armour Piercing Knife With Ornately Decorated Polished Bone Sectioned Grips & Scabbard. Sn 21449:8 Daggers

Victorian Era North West Frontier Pesh-Kabz Choora / Khyber Afghan Armour Piercing Knife With Ornately Decorated Polished Bone Sectioned Grips & Scabbard. Sn 21449:8 - 21449:8

The Pesh-Kabz or Choora is a type of Perso-Afghan knife designed to penetrate chain mail armour (see page 494 of Stone's book 'A Glossary Of Arms & Armour'). The knives were typically used as a thrusting weapon, however, the wide ‘T’ section blade also has considerable slicing performance, and as such may also be used effectively with slashing or cutting strokes. During the British Colonial rule in India, the British frequently referred to all Afghan blades of this pattern collectively as "Afghan knives" or "Khyber knives", after the Khyber Pass that marked the transition from British India to the nation of Afghanistan. In India, manufacture of the pesh-kabz was centred in the northern city of Bhera, now part of Pakistan. During the First and Second Anglo-Afghan wars, the pesh-kabz was frequently the weapon of choice for finishing off wounded British and colonial troops, as the Afghan tribesmen did not take prisoners except for use as hostages. This is an attractive original example of the pesh-kabz / choora made in the Victorian era. It has an 8 ¼” single edged T section blade (13 ¼” overall). The blade with single edge narrows to a pin sharp point and its cutting edge is sharp. The spine of the blade has hand tooled decoration. The blade has staining consistent with age. It has the correct curved pronged pommel with small metal plate protrusion with hole for wrist cord and finger guard. The grip frame is decorated with hand tooled geometric and foliate designs with naïve coloured enamel insets and highlights. The scales are formed from sections of polished bone, secured by a series of pins. The knife is complete with its original wood lined, brass covered scabbard. The scabbard has ornate hand tooled decoration. The price for this attractive Khyber knife includes UK delivery. Sn 21449:8 (in fighting knives box)

£395.00