Thanks Jim, it was the date of the Seme that got me! So many other bits of silliness throughout it as well .

But at least his published lots of books & sold many such pieces.

Stone was at the forefront of research & didn't have the internet, 5 minutes research on any of these arms on this or many others sites would, while not be perfect set him on a straighter line....
spiral

Agreed, in many things published there are items and comments that prove to be pretty funny. I can recall many years ago certain mail order catalogs had descriptions and text with items which many of us would browse through and end up hysterical! These became like comic books, and we enjoyed them for years.
What was horrible was the times that some authors actually used some of these catalog descriptions as supporting evidence!!!???in their published work.
I guess that why we're here, to set things straight as much as possible on identifying items, and sharing knowledge so the newer guys can be aware when they are buying.

Stone was remarkably prudent as he took on his monumental task, and knew the pitfalls he would face. He responsibly noted to readers that there would be potential errors, and encouraged future collectors, researchers and scholars to keep moving forward in further study and resolution.
His work will always stand as the benchmark, and all these years later, here we are!!! I think he would be delighted!!!

Google , George 6th pillar box crowns.

indeed Jim its a shame when gross inaccuracies in books or in even nowadays internet articles, that are are used to inflate the prices of junk pieces...

Chaps, the crown on the lead stamp is for the last 2 century's at least a Queens crown not a Kings, Its either Vickys or Lizzies, but as it is stamped in lead in reverse, from a true stamp it clearly, not an old British museum stamp. {Even impoverished carpenters had there own steel stamps made, to mark there tools in Victorian times, never mind museums!}

More like an impression made from a Crown button, buckle or some such. Cold pressed into a piece of soft lead.

Spiral :shrug:

Guys, I am really enjoying it:-)
Seriously, I truly admire your attention to details and unexpected approaches to the riddles of attribution.
Great twist of the discussion!

Glad your enjoying it, were always here for you Ariel! ;)

I wonder what Afghan vegetable or other natural dyes would create that bright red scabbard colouring & maintain it for 100 plus years? :shrug:

linky..

Spiral[

I see your point, but we do not know where and under what conditions this scabbard spent the last 150 years:-)
I recently saw pics of Jane Fonda....

you poor thing. what has been seen cannot be unseen

(she's 77 BTW)

jane with her makeup off taking a toke off her spliff:

Exceedingly plain, I'm afraid. I assume mid-late 20th c, acquired in Kabul's Chicken Street buried beneath much more obviously modern junk.

Not 100% certain if this belongs here but anyway.
New acquisition from a forum member, thanks again.
I do appreciate its simple design very much.

Cheers,
taube.

My one and only.
I think this qualifies in this thread.

Not exactly a choora, more of a karud I would say.

I would call this a pesh.

Choora, karud, pesh.

Hi,
I recently bought this choora... it wasn't very expensive considering its condition... but I wanted to find out more about how it was assembled.
I was surprised to find discreet Arabic/Persian writings on it but I'm unable to read them (perhaps a date, name or place of origin ?).
Can anyone help me?
Regards from Belgium

I believe that this one can qualify as Choora. It is an interesting example, the very existence of which defies the author of "Edged Weapons of Afghanistan" book. It has a Wootz blade and a Wootz bolster. The rest of the fittings are made of steel with brass details. The handle is made of walrus tooth and bone. I think it is a relatively early Choora example.

Hello, Tatyana. Excellent specimen. But I don't see a classic choora... I see a karud or pesh-kabz with a straight blade (oh, this terminology debate), to which the choora handle was later added.

Well, one can argue, if the blade was taken from an earlier small Karud/Pesh or was made specially for the dagger. But the fittings are characteristic for Choora - please see also the rare examples with earlier blades in the "Edged Weapons of Afghanistan" book. The fittings fit perfectly each other and the blade - please see the cross-section of the scabbard, where only a Choora handle can pass through. I believe what we see here - forgetting the name game - is a an early missing link between a Karud/Pesh and a later classical Choora.

I have another interesting example. A Choora with a fine Wootz blade, ivory hilt and a high-grade silver mounts (tested).

That's a possibility. But it's quite logical to assume they took an old blade and made a handle and scabbard for it. Here's another interesting item. And it's unlikely to be a transitional form from pesh-kabza to choora.