Khyber Knife to share

drac2k · 28th April 2020, 08:05 PM

I just picked this item up; I believe it to be an honest example of a khyber knife. The "T-back," blade measures 13.5" long. The handle girth is extremely wide as it measures at the pommel 1&7/8" x 2."This is considerably larger than my other khyber swords or knives.

David R · 28th April 2020, 10:31 PM

Not really a Khyber, more of a Pesh Kabz to my mind.

drac2k · 28th April 2020, 11:19 PM

Thank you; I stand corrected.

Kubur · 28th April 2020, 11:38 PM

Not honest! you have a very beautiful Persian karud
karud or pesh kabz... i don't know...

russel · 29th April 2020, 12:22 AM

Yes, that's a really nice example. Most likely wootz.

ariel · 29th April 2020, 12:35 AM

Yes, it is not a selavah ( aka Khyber Knife , aka Salavar Yataghan), but a straightbladed Pesh Kabz, popular in NW India, Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Colloquially known to modern collectors as “ karud” due to Stone’s reliance on the gullible ( and likely, tin) ear of Henri Moser.

It is a good and old one. Ivory handle steers it more toward India. It has collection markings on the handle; would be nice to know their meaning but I am afraid it is no longer possible. Just in case ask the seller about the provenance.

Battara · 29th April 2020, 02:08 AM

It once also had a finial piece and perhaps even a tassel on the end of the hilt.

I agree with Russel - probably a wootz blade.

drac2k · 29th April 2020, 03:28 AM

Thank you, gentlemen, for your observations and kind words; it was won at an auction, stuck in randomly among many dissimilar things and thus, unfortunately, there was no history. Fortunately, it was stuck in randomly among many dissimilar things and that was how I was able to win it.

mahratt · 29th April 2020, 10:46 AM

Very nice dagger. My congratulations. As mentioned above, not a Khyber knife. This is Karud

In 1860, long before Henry Moser and Stone, the term "Karud" was used by Florian Antonovich Gille.

It's funny to talk about "colloquial speech of collectors." The term "Karud" was used not only by Florian Antonovich Gille and Henry Moser, but also by the well-known collector Buttin (Book: Catalogue de la Collection d'Armes Anciennes, Europeennes et Orientates), scientists: Rudolf Zeller (Book: Die orientalische Sammlung von Henri Moser auf Charlottenfels im Historischen Museum in Bern) and Torben Flindt (Book: Islamic Arms and Armour), Antoni Romuald Chodyński (Book: Persian and Indo-Persian weapons of the 16th-19th century from Polish collections), .
And in general it is strange to say "straightbladed Pesh Kabz" when there is a name "Karud". It’s the same as saying the "curved Caucasian dagger Kama”, instead of simply saying “Bebut”))))

drac2k · 29th April 2020, 03:12 PM

Thank you.

28th April 2020, 08:05 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	Khyber Knife to share I just picked this item up; I believe it to be an honest example of a khyber knife. The "T-back," blade measures 13.5" long. The handle girth is extremely wide as it measures at the pommel 1&7/8" x 2."This is considerably larger than my other khyber swords or knives. Attached Images

29th April 2020, 12:22 AM	#5
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	Yes, that's a really nice example. Most likely wootz. Last edited by russel; 29th April 2020 at 01:05 AM.

28th April 2020, 10:31 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Not really a Khyber, more of a Pesh Kabz to my mind.

28th April 2020, 11:19 PM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	Thank you; I stand corrected.

28th April 2020, 11:38 PM	#4
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Not honest! you have a very beautiful Persian karud karud or pesh kabz... i don't know...

29th April 2020, 12:35 AM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yes, it is not a selavah ( aka Khyber Knife , aka Salavar Yataghan), but a straightbladed Pesh Kabz, popular in NW India, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Colloquially known to modern collectors as “ karud” due to Stone’s reliance on the gullible ( and likely, tin) ear of Henri Moser. It is a good and old one. Ivory handle steers it more toward India. It has collection markings on the handle; would be nice to know their meaning but I am afraid it is no longer possible. Just in case ask the seller about the provenance.

29th April 2020, 02:08 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,217	It once also had a finial piece and perhaps even a tassel on the end of the hilt. I agree with Russel - probably a wootz blade.

29th April 2020, 03:28 AM	#8
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	Thank you, gentlemen, for your observations and kind words; it was won at an auction, stuck in randomly among many dissimilar things and thus, unfortunately, there was no history. Fortunately, it was stuck in randomly among many dissimilar things and that was how I was able to win it.

29th April 2020, 10:46 AM	#9
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	Very nice dagger. My congratulations. As mentioned above, not a Khyber knife. This is Karud In 1860, long before Henry Moser and Stone, the term "Karud" was used by Florian Antonovich Gille. It's funny to talk about "colloquial speech of collectors." The term "Karud" was used not only by Florian Antonovich Gille and Henry Moser, but also by the well-known collector Buttin (Book: Catalogue de la Collection d'Armes Anciennes, Europeennes et Orientates), scientists: Rudolf Zeller (Book: Die orientalische Sammlung von Henri Moser auf Charlottenfels im Historischen Museum in Bern) and Torben Flindt (Book: Islamic Arms and Armour), Antoni Romuald Chodyński (Book: Persian and Indo-Persian weapons of the 16th-19th century from Polish collections), . And in general it is strange to say "straightbladed Pesh Kabz" when there is a name "Karud". It’s the same as saying the "curved Caucasian dagger Kama”, instead of simply saying “Bebut”))))

29th April 2020, 03:12 PM	#10
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,230	Thank you.