Afghani? Bukharan? short sword
 

I have an identical one and always thought that it was a "one-time" creation.
But here is another one, just like mine!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=012
Do we have any information re. this pattern? Age? Origin?

Hi Ariel,

Anyway to get pictures of your hilt? Is your blade the same including marks?

Thanks
Jeff

Here they are

Hi Ariel,
With your expertise in the weapons of these regions, you would probably have better range on what this interesting sabre would be. The blade with the exaggerated yelman and curve seems to be similar to those on some Indian tegha, and the spined back typical of many Central Asian edged weapons.
The hilt seems Afghan, but the deeply canted angle as well as what seems a highly stylized zoomorphic pommel quite unusual. The scabbard characteristics, particularly the pierced work chape are I believe of Afghan style.
I would be inclined to consider this probably a sabre from Afghanistan, and agree it is a considerably unusual form.
Best,
Jim

Thank you Ariel for the photo's.

I have recently taken a interest in Bukhara sabers and can see some similar traits. I agree with Jim your blade looks Indian. The hilt is the interesting thing here. The grip I cannot identify (yet). The Bukhara saber has a similar bolster as yours but more closely resembles the bolster of a Khyber knife or Pesh-Kabz. Yours is a little different. I will see what I can find.
It is a very cool piece though!

All the Best
Jeff

An interesting piece with a really cool looking blade! I always find the grooved spine interesting. You find this among some Indian swords and less commonly in E Europe and China. The scabbard chape is quite Indian. As Jeff mentions the bolsters seem reminiscent of a kyber sword. The handle form reminds me of an abstract parrot head. Maybe I am matrixing a form here but the general profile seems like those parrot hilted examples. Most probably NW India/Afghanistan. An interesting hybrid of regions.

Very good observation Jeff has made on the bolsters, which indeed do correspond to the Bukharan style in degree which made me think of the Uzbek, Afghan shashka's, as well as Khyber knives. While the blade appears to be of Indian form, the spines seem consistant with this feature on Central asian blades. It seems these in varying degree are on the backs of the immortal 'Black Sea yataghans' :) and sometimes on Khyber knives ?

The zoomorphic hilt does seem like some of the parrot head forms that Rsword mentions! and with the Indian form blade added, I think we're headed for the NW Frontier on this one. The pierced work on the chape seems more Afghan to me, and it seems I've seen it on numerous tulwars and Khybers.