Ethiopian sword?

[MattScott]

Hi all

I’m looking for any information about this please.

I was bought it by some friends about 25 years ago and it had a tag on it that said “Ethiopian chopping sword”.

It’s about 28” long

Any information gratefully received!

Cheers

Matt

[Lee]

I think this is a "large" Khyber knife, though some other members may have a better name for it.

For comparison: http://vikingsword.com/lew/w0133/w0133.html

[Jim McDougall]

Amazing descriptions people put on swords! Auction descriptions are an entertainment all their own.

This is of course a 'Khyber Knife' (siliwar) from the Khyber regions of Northwest Frontier India, probably late 19th-early 20th used by varying tribes.

Crossed posts Lee

[ariel]

Yup. Old and trusty Khyber Knife as per Brits.
They took the real local name "selavah", transiterated it into English as "Salavar", noticed that many of them had recurved bladed and,... voila! -Salavar Yataghan:-)

For years we thought that Salavar came from the name of Persian pants , Shalvars, but now the origin is clear.

Stone called them Churra , a " knife" in Hindi. Generally, the Afghani variant of the venerable butcher's knife. I once saw an old photo from Central Asian bazaar, where newly made examples were sold there as ,- you guess,- butcher's knives. They were made all over Afghanistan and immortalized by R. Kipling and a horrible weapon. Every self-respected Afghani carried one. Nothing was better for hacking sheep carcass or an unfortunate Tommy .

[kronckew]

Yup. My Salawar 'Yataghan' for another comparison, and a khyber choori, a smaller 'kitchen knife' version. The larger has a slight but noticeably recurved spine. For a Pathan, EDC - Don't leave home without one.

[MattScott]

Hey, thanks everyone! So not an Ethiopian chopping sword at all!! 😊. I think your answers are all much better anyway! Thanks so much for the info…..I absolutely love this thing!

Thanks again

Matt

[kronckew]

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
-Kipling

"Strike!" said the King. "King's blood art thou— his death shall be his pride!"
Then louder, that the crowd might catch:
"Fear not—his arms are tied!"
Yar Khan drew clear the Khyber knife, and struck, and sheathed again.
"O man, thy will is done," quoth he; "a King this dog hath slain."
-Kipling again.

They have looked each other between the eyes, and there they found no fault.
They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on leavened bread and salt:
They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on fire and fresh-cut sod,
On the hilt and the haft of the Khyber knife, and the Wondrous Names of God.
- More Kipling

[MattScott]

The man was obsessed! 😊

Seriously, that makes grim reading but very very interesting and some amazing background info for my humble but much loved blade.

Thanks!!

Matt

[David R]

Kipling for the win, the man was there, in those days, and had sympathy for all involved in those events.
There are worse references for those days of the Great Game.

[David R]

...Also, visible differences between the kitchen knife and the weapon.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by David R

...Also, visible differences between the kitchen knife and the weapon.

I forgot to mention it has a T-spine.