Khyber Knife Variant

Norman McCormick · 15th April 2012, 06:07 PM

Hi All,
A recent and relatively interesting addition, I hope, to the collection. A military style variant of the standard type Khyber knife/sword. These variants appear to come about when native weapons were altered to give a somewhat European, i.e.British, feel and appearance to these already not insubstantial sidearms. See www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=301 for a similar item. Oa length 25 inches, blade 20 inches, max width just short of 2 inches. As you can see the conversion is not particularly well done. The scales have been on and off several times and the guard 'shoehorned' over the blade and tagged on the pommel with the chape rammed onto the scabbard and wrinkling the original leather covering. One further 'variant' is that sword is mounted for a left-hander. Regardless of the conversion it is still a menacing and meaty blade. As usual all comments and opinions welcomed.
Regards,
Norman.

Stan S. · 15th April 2012, 07:56 PM

Lovely example! Very impressive! I find the bottom fitting on the scabbard to be very peculiar. Could it be a reworked fitting from a European sword scabbard?

Norman McCormick · 15th April 2012, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan S.

Could it be a reworked fitting from a European sword scabbard?

Hi Stan,
Thanks for your interest. The drag on the bottom of the scabbard would have been locally made, as was all the fittings, and then brazed onto the chape.
The drag is of course totally useless on a scabbard of this size and is only there because it was copied directly from the British military scabbards which they were emulating.
My Regards,
Norman.

ariel · 15th April 2012, 08:53 PM

It is a faithful copy of the short sword made for the Afghani military at the end of 19th-beginning of 20th century. Only this one is not a mass-produced, but rather hand-made.
Very interesting!!!

Norman McCormick · 15th April 2012, 09:09 PM

Hi Ariel,
I don't think it is a copy as such more an older, not much maybe, knife and scabbard that has been altered to conform to European taste. The Oriental Arms link has a good description of the process involved with these variants. Many thanks for your interest.
My Regards,
Norman.

Stan S. · 15th April 2012, 09:49 PM

Its not a copy. Just styled after an afghan military short sword that was popular from the 19th and into the mid 20th century.I think that's what Ariel meant. Of course this styling is in the hilt and the scabbard hardware. The blade us distinctly Khyber.

Norman McCormick · 15th April 2012, 09:55 PM

Hi Stan,
Re Ariel's post, my wrong interpretation of the word 'copy'.
My Regards,
Norman.

P.S. Here is another of a similar type www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1649

AJ1356 · 16th April 2012, 02:17 PM

Not a varient but a hybrid of two different items. I believe the maker had parts of a maybe broken military saber and decided to use them on this peice. The gaurd on the handle and the bottom piece of the scabbard are from a miltary saber, that many on this forum have. An intereting item non the less, definately unique.

15th April 2012, 06:07 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Khyber Knife Variant Hi All, A recent and relatively interesting addition, I hope, to the collection. A military style variant of the standard type Khyber knife/sword. These variants appear to come about when native weapons were altered to give a somewhat European, i.e.British, feel and appearance to these already not insubstantial sidearms. See www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=301 for a similar item. Oa length 25 inches, blade 20 inches, max width just short of 2 inches. As you can see the conversion is not particularly well done. The scales have been on and off several times and the guard 'shoehorned' over the blade and tagged on the pommel with the chape rammed onto the scabbard and wrinkling the original leather covering. One further 'variant' is that sword is mounted for a left-hander. Regardless of the conversion it is still a menacing and meaty blade. As usual all comments and opinions welcomed. Regards, Norman. Attached Images

15th April 2012, 07:56 PM	#2
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Lovely example! Very impressive! I find the bottom fitting on the scabbard to be very peculiar. Could it be a reworked fitting from a European sword scabbard?

15th April 2012, 08:53 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	It is a faithful copy of the short sword made for the Afghani military at the end of 19th-beginning of 20th century. Only this one is not a mass-produced, but rather hand-made. Very interesting!!!

15th April 2012, 09:09 PM	#5
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Hi Ariel, I don't think it is a copy as such more an older, not much maybe, knife and scabbard that has been altered to conform to European taste. The Oriental Arms link has a good description of the process involved with these variants. Many thanks for your interest. My Regards, Norman.

15th April 2012, 09:49 PM	#6
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Its not a copy. Just styled after an afghan military short sword that was popular from the 19th and into the mid 20th century.I think that's what Ariel meant. Of course this styling is in the hilt and the scabbard hardware. The blade us distinctly Khyber.

15th April 2012, 09:55 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Hi Stan, Re Ariel's post, my wrong interpretation of the word 'copy'. My Regards, Norman. P.S. Here is another of a similar type www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=1649

16th April 2012, 02:17 PM	#8
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 314	Not a varient but a hybrid of two different items. I believe the maker had parts of a maybe broken military saber and decided to use them on this peice. The gaurd on the handle and the bottom piece of the scabbard are from a miltary saber, that many on this forum have. An intereting item non the less, definately unique.