Afghani Khyber swords : are there 2 varieties?

RobT · 6th November 2005, 12:04 AM

I think Rick hit the nail on the head with his tribal/regional observation. To go even further I propose that we should view the Khyber blade style as native to a much larger area than Afghanistan and that its very practical and beautiful shape has been variously hilted to suit the disparate tastes of a wide variety of ethnic groups. After all, do we really have any hard evidence the this blade style orignated in Afghanistan? Could it not have just as easily come from Iran, Pakastan or North India? In support of this contention, I point to Figiel (On Damascus Steel) pg 69 which shows a " 'T' shaped back edge" Khyber style blade from "Northwest India" or "Persia" with an Indo/Muslim "Deli Shahi type" hilt. In addition to this, I am posting pictures of two Khyber style blades with hilts that differ from those already shown in this thread. The larger of the two features a 29" (73.66cm) blade and a 5" (12.7cm) horn hilt whose one piece scales look like a cross between a peshkabz and choora hilt. The smaller blade is 26" (66.4cm) long and has a 6" (15.24cm) wooden hilt that looks like an enlarged kard hilt.
Sincerely,
RobT

6th November 2005, 12:04 AM	#9
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 548	Blade is Key? I think Rick hit the nail on the head with his tribal/regional observation. To go even further I propose that we should view the Khyber blade style as native to a much larger area than Afghanistan and that its very practical and beautiful shape has been variously hilted to suit the disparate tastes of a wide variety of ethnic groups. After all, do we really have any hard evidence the this blade style orignated in Afghanistan? Could it not have just as easily come from Iran, Pakastan or North India? In support of this contention, I point to Figiel (On Damascus Steel) pg 69 which shows a " 'T' shaped back edge" Khyber style blade from "Northwest India" or "Persia" with an Indo/Muslim "Deli Shahi type" hilt. In addition to this, I am posting pictures of two Khyber style blades with hilts that differ from those already shown in this thread. The larger of the two features a 29" (73.66cm) blade and a 5" (12.7cm) horn hilt whose one piece scales look like a cross between a peshkabz and choora hilt. The smaller blade is 26" (66.4cm) long and has a 6" (15.24cm) wooden hilt that looks like an enlarged kard hilt. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images