Khyber knives

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Rick

I'd guess many Khybers with this general hilt pattern were probably either family or private purchase blades re-hilted to fit military standards .
Very nice sword .

Well surmised Rick!
It seems that many of the auxiliary levy's of Afghan forces were of course largely of varied tribal groups, so it does seem logical that these heirloom blades might have been installed in these military hilts. As has been well researched by Mahratt, much of this was done in the Mashin Khana arsenal in Kabul.

The use of 'family' or 'trophy' blades was well practiced in Russian military, especially Cossack regiments, which were largely Caucasian men with heirloom shashkas. Often trophy blades from battle from various European sources were mounted in Russian regulation sabres.

This kind of hybridization is to me one of the most exciting sectors of study in these arms.