Pesh Kabz to date

Conduit · 12th March 2022, 02:04 PM

Hello,

Would you help me to date this Persian (I guess) pesh kabz correctly.
It does not appear to be of an intricate design but all in all is of decent quality with very sharp blade and frail scabbard.
As this is the first sample of this kind of blades I handle I wonder how old is it?

Many thanks for your opinions.

BBJW · 12th March 2022, 08:55 PM

If those are lotus flowers engraved on this would it be of Persian origin?-- bbjw

ariel · 12th March 2022, 09:49 PM

Pesh Kabzes are single-edged, although rarely they may have partial edge close to the point. Yours is clearly double edged.
Double-Edged Indo-Persian daggers are Khandjars.
Yours has a camel or ox bone handle and big brass bolster. I would guess it is of Afghani or NW Indian origin and dates to the second half of the 19 to early 20 century. Good full example with highly likely original scabbard.

Ian · 13th March 2022, 02:02 PM

Hi Conduit.

I agree with ariel. Not likely to be Persian in origin, and more probably NW Indian. In response to BBJW's suggestion about lotus flowers--they are not lotus flowers depicted on the blade. Similar knives are still being made today in Rajastan.

Oliver Pinchot · 14th March 2022, 08:11 PM

Ariel called it. It's Afghan work, mid-late 20th century.
These were sold to NATO, American and other soldiers as tourist pieces.
Some earlier pieces, c. 1900-mid century, were engraved after the fact.
This is not to say they weren't carried by Afghans and others, I have no
doubt they were. Is it sharp?

Battara · 15th March 2022, 02:12 AM

Thank you Oliver. I was wondering about this being a tourist piece due to the irregular form, the bone quality, and the form of the etchings on the blade, but wasn't sure.

12th March 2022, 02:04 PM	#1
Conduit Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 30	Pesh Kabz to date Hello, Would you help me to date this Persian (I guess) pesh kabz correctly. It does not appear to be of an intricate design but all in all is of decent quality with very sharp blade and frail scabbard. As this is the first sample of this kind of blades I handle I wonder how old is it? Many thanks for your opinions. Attached Images

12th March 2022, 09:49 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Pesh Kabzes are single-edged, although rarely they may have partial edge close to the point. Yours is clearly double edged. Double-Edged Indo-Persian daggers are Khandjars. Yours has a camel or ox bone handle and big brass bolster. I would guess it is of Afghani or NW Indian origin and dates to the second half of the 19 to early 20 century. Good full example with highly likely original scabbard. Last edited by ariel; 13th March 2022 at 03:18 AM.

14th March 2022, 08:11 PM	#5
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	Ariel called it. It's Afghan work, mid-late 20th century. These were sold to NATO, American and other soldiers as tourist pieces. Some earlier pieces, c. 1900-mid century, were engraved after the fact. This is not to say they weren't carried by Afghans and others, I have no doubt they were. Is it sharp? Last edited by Oliver Pinchot; 14th March 2022 at 09:49 PM.

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12th March 2022, 08:55 PM	#2
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	If those are lotus flowers engraved on this would it be of Persian origin?-- bbjw

13th March 2022, 02:02 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	Hi Conduit. I agree with ariel. Not likely to be Persian in origin, and more probably NW Indian. In response to BBJW's suggestion about lotus flowers--they are not lotus flowers depicted on the blade. Similar knives are still being made today in Rajastan.

15th March 2022, 02:12 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Thank you Oliver. I was wondering about this being a tourist piece due to the irregular form, the bone quality, and the form of the etchings on the blade, but wasn't sure.