Go on...show us your Choora!!

[Andy Stevens]

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of the Northern Alliance, told us that during his fighting days he saw very few older weapons carried, they being superseded by modern bayonets or bowie type affairs.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]

Here is my only one ...

[CharlesS]

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

[Rick]

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.]

Here is mine:

[CharlesS]

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.

[Stan S.]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

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".

Actually, "choora" simply means a knife in Urdu or Punjabi (sorry, I don't remember which one). It is a pretty generic term and can be applied to a viriety of mid-sized cutting implements. There is also a "choori", which is a small(ish) knife and is a derivative of choora. A large knife (but smaller than a khyber or salawar yataghan, which is essentially a short sword) is called a "kard". I would venture a guess that any knife that is intended not only for fighting but also for various houeshold chores can be referred to as "choora".

[chregu]

Hello all together
my Choora.

greeting Chregu

[carlos]

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]

mine: (top)


more detail:

[ariel]

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.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Yes, I think this would be considered the Afghan version of a karud, or straight blade pesh kabz.

Where did I read that the etymology of the word Karud is uncertain, to the point that it might just be an erroneous word, mis-heard by the europeans?
I checked Stone and Egerton, but could not find it. Dang! Alzheimer playing more games....

[Berkley]

My semi-relic doesn't look very imposing in such distinguished company, although it still retains the classic elements of the type.

[Rick]

None of the examples shown look very household or utilitarian, except in the line of killing or wounding that is ...

[Andy Stevens]

Blimey!! There are a lot of fine example out there! Feel free to post Karuds or even the big brother Khyber knifes. Has anybody a modern resin hilted example? We've seen a couple on Ebay, a new take on an old idea, but still interesting. Keep em coming!!

[thinreadline]

Here is a rather basic workaday example . Bone hilt and 40 cm long . I feel that it was a knife like this that Kipling had in mind when he wrote the lines :

'When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains'

.. rather than the more elegant pieces we have shown here !

[Andy Stevens]

Ah! Kipling....fine poetry and exceedingly good cakes ! The old work horses are very welcome, its worth comparing the subtle differences between older and more modern examples, especially in the quality and decoration of the scabbards, some of which are just works of art in themselves. We've attached below three images of North Indian knifes, very workman like with re-enforced spines and pesh like overall appearance. All comments welcome. The top example we originally described as a pesh/choora but now we would call a Karud!

[Lew]

Here is one that I picked up a couple of years ago. The blade is wootz but I have no good close ups of it.

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Lew

Here is one that I picked up a couple of years ago. The blade is wootz but I have no good close ups of it.

Very classy Lew , I like it.

[A.alnakkas]

These are mine.. Nothing fancy, but authentic I think.

[Lew]

I forgot this one which was forged from a file.

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Lew

I forgot this one which id forged from a file.

You made this Lew ?

[Lew]

Sorry type O . Nope picked it up on ebay many years ago. You can still see the teeth from the file on the blade's surface.

[Stan S.]

Originally Posted by Lew

Sorry type O . Nope picked it up on ebay many years ago. You can still see the teeth from the file on the blade's surface.

Where do you see the teeth? This thing has a mirror finish. Do you have any pictures showing thsi detail? I would love to see it

[ariel]

Originally Posted by Andy Stevens

Ah! Kipling....fine poetry and exceedingly good cakes ! We've attached below three images of North Indian knifes, very workman like with re-enforced spines and pesh like overall appearance. All comments welcome. The top example we originally described as a pesh/choora but now we would call a Karud!

Aren't they so-called Kerala knives? Long way to Afghanistan :-)

[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!

[Stan S.]

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]

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]

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]

Wootz