A big butcher knife

Flavio · 21st March 2006, 08:18 PM

Hello this is arrived today and is still uncleaned, but i'm very inpatient to show you. On a book that ia have (Coltelli e pugnali. Zdenek Faktor) is attribuited to the Pathan of Afghanistan, but i know that this kind of swords are Khyber. Could someone illuminate me ?

Total lenght 70 cm. Thank you

ham · 21st March 2006, 08:29 PM

Flavio,

"Khyber" is what collectors call these weapons, it derives from the area the British encountered them, i.e. the Khyber Pass.
The majority clan of E. Afghanistan, at least during the Afghan Wars of the 19th century, was Pathan. Anthropologically speaking, they are distinguished by their language, Pashto, and are generally Sunni Muslims.

I have never known any Afghan who called these weapons Khyber knives, though there is a vast span of opinion regarding what the proper term actually is. Generally knowledgeable individuals there usually call it a "Salawar" after the region where it originated, was most commonly made, or perhaps was most used. I suspect this term is the oldest for it as Egerton refers to it as a "Salawar yatagan" in his mid-19th century research as well.

Ham

Flavio · 21st March 2006, 08:58 PM

Thank you Ham, for the exhaustive explanation

What do you think about age?

Lew · 21st March 2006, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavio

Thank you Ham, for the exhausting explanation

What do you think about age?

Flavio

That is a nice one did it come with a scabbard? I would place it's age as late 19th century.

Lew

Flavio · 21st March 2006, 09:46 PM

No, Lew there is no scabbard. Thank you

ham · 21st March 2006, 10:10 PM

I agree with Lew, late 19th.

It didn't exhaust me, I hope it didn't exhaust you?!

Ham

Flavio · 23rd March 2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavio

Hello this is arrived today and is still uncleaned,

And now is clean!!

not2sharp · 24th March 2006, 12:25 AM

A very nice example.

n2s

Jim McDougall · 24th March 2006, 12:39 AM

Getting back to the 'Khyber knife' .....
Ham,
Outstanding concise data on these interesting weapons, not at all exhausting!!

just precisely described.
I am extremely interested in the distinct lazy s type motif in lines near the top of the blade.....it seems I have seen this motif as far to the east as Laos and on some types of dha. Similar markings occur in a number of diverse regions on swords, and typically in this type of linear motif, although cannot recall ever seeing it on the 'Khybers'.
Any idea of possible meanings, associations etc. ?
All the best,
Jim

21st March 2006, 08:18 PM	#1
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	A big butcher knife Hello this is arrived today and is still uncleaned, but i'm very inpatient to show you. On a book that ia have (Coltelli e pugnali. Zdenek Faktor) is attribuited to the Pathan of Afghanistan, but i know that this kind of swords are Khyber. Could someone illuminate me ? Total lenght 70 cm. Thank you Attached Images

21st March 2006, 08:58 PM	#3
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Thank you Ham, for the exhaustive explanation What do you think about age? Last edited by Flavio; 21st March 2006 at 10:17 PM.

21st March 2006, 08:29 PM	#2
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	Flavio, "Khyber" is what collectors call these weapons, it derives from the area the British encountered them, i.e. the Khyber Pass. The majority clan of E. Afghanistan, at least during the Afghan Wars of the 19th century, was Pathan. Anthropologically speaking, they are distinguished by their language, Pashto, and are generally Sunni Muslims. I have never known any Afghan who called these weapons Khyber knives, though there is a vast span of opinion regarding what the proper term actually is. Generally knowledgeable individuals there usually call it a "Salawar" after the region where it originated, was most commonly made, or perhaps was most used. I suspect this term is the oldest for it as Egerton refers to it as a "Salawar yatagan" in his mid-19th century research as well. Ham

21st March 2006, 09:46 PM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	No, Lew there is no scabbard. Thank you

21st March 2006, 10:10 PM	#6
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	I agree with Lew, late 19th. It didn't exhaust me, I hope it didn't exhaust you?! Ham

24th March 2006, 12:25 AM	#8
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	A very nice example. n2s

24th March 2006, 12:39 AM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,948	Getting back to the 'Khyber knife' ..... Ham, Outstanding concise data on these interesting weapons, not at all exhausting!! just precisely described. I am extremely interested in the distinct lazy s type motif in lines near the top of the blade.....it seems I have seen this motif as far to the east as Laos and on some types of dha. Similar markings occur in a number of diverse regions on swords, and typically in this type of linear motif, although cannot recall ever seeing it on the 'Khybers'. Any idea of possible meanings, associations etc. ? All the best, Jim