Go on...show us your Choora!!

Andy Stevens · 16th January 2012, 11:14 AM

Hello all! We have a real love for the Afghan Choora and thought it would be interesting to have a thread specifically devoted to these often beatufully crafted weapons. It would be interesting to compare the styling and artistic elements encountered and try to pin point definite tribal affiliations. Does anybody know for instance where the pin studded hilts are manufactured? An afghan friend and former member of the Northern Alliance, told us that during his fighting days he saw very few older weapons carried, they being superseded by modern bayonets or bowie type affairs. In fact, our friend was genuinely interested in seeing some of our collected examples and was actually rather lacking in knowledge on such an historic element of his culture. So if you have a favourite old warrior, post a picture and give the spot light to these elegant and often overlooked weapons. We have started the ball rolling with a couple of our old blades, both we think date from the early 20thC.

thinreadline · 16th January 2012, 12:29 PM

Here is my only one ...

CharlesS · 16th January 2012, 03:36 PM

Here is one I picked up at a show about 5 years ago. Good quality throughout and a crystalline wootz blade.

Rick · 16th January 2012, 05:08 PM

Aren't these daggers called Pesh Kabz ?

I don't want to Karud this thread up, but this is as close as I have to a Choora .

Stan S. · 16th January 2012, 05:27 PM

Here is mine:

CharlesS · 16th January 2012, 05:50 PM

Yes, I think this would be considered the Afghan version of a karud, or straight blade pesh kabz. I am not even sure "choora" is an operable Afghan term.

There is a rather famous story about Stone being shown knives from that part of the world and he heard and used the term "choora" which was not the name of a knife, but simply meant "next", as in "next example please".

I cannot confirm the story, but interesting.

ariel · 17th January 2012, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan S.

Here is mine:

Stan,
Can you show close up pic of the chape? I am interested in it's decorative motives.
Thanks.

carlos · 16th January 2012, 07:55 PM

Here are mines!! Bring back from Afghanistan by a friend. One with leather sheath, seems more older than other 2, from recent manufacture.
best regards
carlos

kronckew · 16th January 2012, 09:16 PM

mine: (top)

more detail:

DaveA · 24th January 2012, 02:15 AM

Early 20th C. The blade is 8 3/4 inches long. Horn grips. Wooden scabbard leather covered but some now missing, otherwise good condition. Overall, 13 inches long.

Andy Stevens · 25th January 2012, 01:10 PM

Hi Dave,
Thanks for posting another great looking dagger. We've had a few with these painted hilts and have often wondered when this style of decoration became popular and why? As ever all comments welcome and a big thanks to all who have shown there babies.

Atlantia · 25th January 2012, 01:19 PM

Nice examples gents. Shall we have similar threads for Pesh etc?

Marcus · 29th October 2014, 03:48 AM

These are my two, of different eras. No one commented.

Royston · 29th October 2014, 04:41 AM

Some more (must have missed this thread first time around)

Roy

Roland_M · 8th June 2015, 05:59 PM

Here is my contribution for the discussion.
I am not sure, i think it is from Afghanistan, a very long blade (14,4" blade only), made from fine low contrast wootz.

ariel · 8th June 2015, 06:15 PM

It is not what we would call a "choora". It is rather a small khyber: they could be 14-15 inches up to 25 inches or more, ranging in their function from a dagger to a full-blown cleaver.

With wootz and ivory I would bet on India, but who knows? North-West Frontier was and still is full of ethnic Pushtuns...

16th January 2012, 11:14 AM	#1
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Go on...show us your Choora!! Hello all! We have a real love for the Afghan Choora and thought it would be interesting to have a thread specifically devoted to these often beatufully crafted weapons. It would be interesting to compare the styling and artistic elements encountered and try to pin point definite tribal affiliations. Does anybody know for instance where the pin studded hilts are manufactured? An afghan friend and former member of the Northern Alliance, told us that during his fighting days he saw very few older weapons carried, they being superseded by modern bayonets or bowie type affairs. In fact, our friend was genuinely interested in seeing some of our collected examples and was actually rather lacking in knowledge on such an historic element of his culture. So if you have a favourite old warrior, post a picture and give the spot light to these elegant and often overlooked weapons. We have started the ball rolling with a couple of our old blades, both we think date from the early 20thC. Attached Images

16th January 2012, 12:29 PM	#2
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	choora Here is my only one ... Attached Images

16th January 2012, 03:36 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Here is one I picked up at a show about 5 years ago. Good quality throughout and a crystalline wootz blade. Attached Images

16th January 2012, 05:08 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Aren't these daggers called Pesh Kabz ? I don't want to Karud this thread up, but this is as close as I have to a Choora . Attached Images

16th January 2012, 05:27 PM	#5
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Here is mine: Attached Images

16th January 2012, 05:50 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Yes, I think this would be considered the Afghan version of a karud, or straight blade pesh kabz. I am not even sure "choora" is an operable Afghan term. There is a rather famous story about Stone being shown knives from that part of the world and he heard and used the term "choora" which was not the name of a knife, but simply meant "next", as in "next example please". I cannot confirm the story, but interesting.

16th January 2012, 07:55 PM	#8
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Here are mines!! Bring back from Afghanistan by a friend. One with leather sheath, seems more older than other 2, from recent manufacture. best regards carlos Attached Images

16th January 2012, 09:16 PM	#9
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	mine: (top) more detail:

24th January 2012, 02:15 AM	#10
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 413	My Choora / Pesh Kabz Early 20th C. The blade is 8 3/4 inches long. Horn grips. Wooden scabbard leather covered but some now missing, otherwise good condition. Overall, 13 inches long. Attached Images

25th January 2012, 01:10 PM	#11
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Hi Dave, Thanks for posting another great looking dagger. We've had a few with these painted hilts and have often wondered when this style of decoration became popular and why? As ever all comments welcome and a big thanks to all who have shown there babies.

25th January 2012, 01:19 PM	#12
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Nice examples gents. Shall we have similar threads for Pesh etc?

29th October 2014, 03:48 AM	#13
Marcus Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 420	I tried to.. These are my two, of different eras. No one commented. Attached Images

29th October 2014, 04:41 AM	#14
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	Some more (must have missed this thread first time around) Roy Attached Images

8th June 2015, 05:59 PM	#15
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 525	Here is my contribution for the discussion. I am not sure, i think it is from Afghanistan, a very long blade (14,4" blade only), made from fine low contrast wootz. Attached Images

8th June 2015, 06:15 PM	#16
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	It is not what we would call a "choora". It is rather a small khyber: they could be 14-15 inches up to 25 inches or more, ranging in their function from a dagger to a full-blown cleaver. With wootz and ivory I would bet on India, but who knows? North-West Frontier was and still is full of ethnic Pushtuns...