Go on...show us your Choora!!

Stan S. · 18th January 2012, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Stevens

Hi Ariel,
Glad somebody mentioned the Kerala knife; the guy we got this example from had several and had sourced them locally in Rajasthan, we later saw them described as Kerala knifes in one of Tirri's fine books, so not sure as to what they actually are. They certainly share some of the characteristics of the Pesh family, heavy blade, thick spine and multi segment hilts.

Hmm, just don't know!

Not to push ahead with my theory on the meaning of "choora" (as covered earlier in thsi thread) but if it holds to be true, a typical "kerala knife" is also a "choora"

Lew · 18th January 2012, 03:35 PM

Stan

a choora is a specific style of knife associated with certain tribes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The kerala knife is associated with an area in the southwest coast of india. Even though they may look similar they really are two different animals and we need to differentiate between them.

thinreadline · 18th January 2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan S.

Not to push ahead with my theory on the meaning of "choora" (as covered earlier in thsi thread) but if it holds to be true, a typical "kerala knife" is also a "choora"

And choora is also a set of bangles worn by Indian brides !

Rick · 18th January 2012, 08:54 PM

Wootz

Lew · 18th January 2012, 09:28 PM

Rick I think this is a karud from Uzbekistan?

Rick · 18th January 2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

Rick I think this is a karud from Uzbekistan?

Bokhara(sp?) yeh, Uzbekistan now .

Uzbek Icepick con Rhino .

Variation on a theme .

Kurt · 27th January 2012, 10:03 AM

Anyone who has seen one like this?
Best
Kurt

Andy Stevens · 29th January 2012, 10:45 AM

Hi Kurt,
Thats one very nice dagger, thanks for posting. Never seen one of that particular form, a real work of art. It seems that afghan weapons are rather popular!! A big thanks to all who have posted so far.

TimW · 23rd February 2012, 04:52 PM

I recently acquired this lovely Choora. What strikes me is the ressemblance in decoration / built with some of the other daggers shown above. The workmanship on this knife is incredible. The carving of the blade, the embellishment on the spine of the blade, the intricate handle design... Let's say I am more than happy having recovered this beauty.

The handle is ivory (probably elephant), blade seems to be wootz. Sheath is wood covered with leather. The tip of the scabbard is reinforced with embellished brass / copper.

Montino Bourbon · 23rd February 2012, 06:16 PM

I made the rosewood scabbard.

chregu · 24th February 2012, 05:16 PM

Hi
I am a little confused! Can someone explained the difference between, Choora, Karud or Pesh Kabz?
I have a friend who comes from Kabul, he simply called all daggers Pesh kabz, and all knives Kard!
even if my looking up in books, I always see other words! I have been collecting for 20 years, everything has a blade and always thought I knew the difference, descriptions of Hermann Historica, knives and daggers, 4 vols.
I'm confused!
I ask some help!! smile

1. Choora? the sheat jes, the Dagger no, Pesh kabz, The blade spine is not straight, the tip is pulled upward.
2. Pesh Kabz
3. Karud
4. Choora
5.picture its Hermann Historika Dolche und Messer aus dem Persischen Kulturraum
6.and the last two are karela south India.

Stan S. · 24th February 2012, 05:47 PM

It is my understanding that all 3 terms: Choora, Karud/Kard, and Pesh kabz are used interchangebly and varry based on location and the primary language spoken there.

On a separate note, I did not know that Kerala knives were carried in pairs such as in the example above

ariel · 29th October 2014, 03:06 AM

Are we dealing with specific patterns of distinct weapons or just ethnic variations of the,- basically,- the same Pesh Kabz?

Hint: Karud and choora have identical blades but different handles. Karud comes mainly from Central Asia, India and some from Afghanistan. Choora, however, is pinpointed to the Mahsud tribe of the Khyber Pass.

estcrh · 29th October 2014, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan S.

It is my understanding that all 3 terms: Choora, Karud/Kard, and Pesh kabz are used interchangebly and varry based on location and the primary language spoken there.

Some notes from Artzi

Quote:

The ‘choora’ is a variant of the famous pesh-kabz and karud (the common name for a ‘pesh-kabz’ with straight blade) and a close relative to the Khayber sword. Its originate from the Khayber pass and used by the Mahsud people residing in this area. Its blade is very similar to that of the Karud knife: strong single edged with a ‘T’ shaped spine. They differ only in the shape of the hilt: The Choora usually has a pommel extending downward and the grip is composed of several Ivory or bone or horn sectors or a combination of all.

Stan S. · 18th January 2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinreadline

And choora is also a set of bangles worn by Indian brides !

True. I could never understand why. They don't resemble a knife (or using the other theory the word "next" for that matter)

18th January 2012, 08:54 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Uzbek Icepick Wootz Attached Images

27th January 2012, 10:03 AM	#7
Kurt Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 197	Another Choora Anyone who has seen one like this? Best Kurt Attached Images

23rd February 2012, 04:52 PM	#9
TimW Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 54	I recently acquired this lovely Choora. What strikes me is the ressemblance in decoration / built with some of the other daggers shown above. The workmanship on this knife is incredible. The carving of the blade, the embellishment on the spine of the blade, the intricate handle design... Let's say I am more than happy having recovered this beauty. The handle is ivory (probably elephant), blade seems to be wootz. Sheath is wood covered with leather. The tip of the scabbard is reinforced with embellished brass / copper. Attached Images

23rd February 2012, 06:16 PM	#10
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	nice piece of wootz... I made the rosewood scabbard. Attached Images

24th February 2012, 05:16 PM	#11
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	Hi I am a little confused! Can someone explained the difference between, Choora, Karud or Pesh Kabz? I have a friend who comes from Kabul, he simply called all daggers Pesh kabz, and all knives Kard! even if my looking up in books, I always see other words! I have been collecting for 20 years, everything has a blade and always thought I knew the difference, descriptions of Hermann Historica, knives and daggers, 4 vols. I'm confused! I ask some help!! smile 1. Choora? the sheat jes, the Dagger no, Pesh kabz, The blade spine is not straight, the tip is pulled upward. 2. Pesh Kabz 3. Karud 4. Choora 5.picture its Hermann Historika Dolche und Messer aus dem Persischen Kulturraum 6.and the last two are karela south India. Attached Images

18th January 2012, 03:35 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Stan a choora is a specific style of knife associated with certain tribes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The kerala knife is associated with an area in the southwest coast of india. Even though they may look similar they really are two different animals and we need to differentiate between them.

18th January 2012, 09:28 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Rick I think this is a karud from Uzbekistan?

29th January 2012, 10:45 AM	#8
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Hi Kurt, Thats one very nice dagger, thanks for posting. Never seen one of that particular form, a real work of art. It seems that afghan weapons are rather popular!! A big thanks to all who have posted so far.

24th February 2012, 05:47 PM	#12
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	It is my understanding that all 3 terms: Choora, Karud/Kard, and Pesh kabz are used interchangebly and varry based on location and the primary language spoken there. On a separate note, I did not know that Kerala knives were carried in pairs such as in the example above

29th October 2014, 03:06 AM	#13
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Are we dealing with specific patterns of distinct weapons or just ethnic variations of the,- basically,- the same Pesh Kabz? Hint: Karud and choora have identical blades but different handles. Karud comes mainly from Central Asia, India and some from Afghanistan. Choora, however, is pinpointed to the Mahsud tribe of the Khyber Pass.