A 'battle weary' Afghan Knife....comments and advice please

BBJW · 21st October 2007, 09:09 PM

Here is one of mine. This was recently brought back from Afghanistan.

bbjw

katana · 21st October 2007, 10:39 PM

Hi BBJW,
thanks, a very nice example, love the hilt

The scabbard fittings (on yours) look to be steel or silver ? It answers my question about metal work on the throat of the scabbard.... it would certainly re-enforce this vunerable area.
Are there features (design, decoration) that could help date and 'tribally' ID Khyber Knives ?

I am very impressed with the cutting ability of these blades ...the 'T' spine greatly strenghens and stiffens the blade but would prevent 'deep' cuts.
It seems that there would be 'techniques' of sword use that were unique to this style of blade ? The stabbing action is obvious...but I wonder how this sword would be used against, say, a Tulwar, or a 'straight' sword.

Pukka Bundook · 22nd October 2007, 02:35 AM

I don't mean to sound trite, but I don't think this knife would be used against a tulwar or straight sword,....just against the wielder of the above!....

Re the cutting ability, In the book Sahib, there are numerous accounts of British soldiers being cut almost in two with these knives,...after the bearer of the knife had been 'run through'. so it would appear that adrenalin, and a sharp knife will work, even if it has a T shaped back!

katana · 22nd October 2007, 02:11 PM

Hi Richard, nice to hear from you

(hows that scabbard coming ?)

There were many battles fought in the Afghan Wars between the British / Indian soldiers and the Afghani Tribesmen. (some links below). Bearing in mind the strategic significance of the Khyber Pass, a lot of conflict has been centred there for centuries. The picture below has the caption "Captain Colin Mackenzie, Madras Army, after his release from captivity". Interestingly he is shown wearing a Khyber Knife, perhaps its popularity spread to some of the British/Indian soldiers ?

http://www.britishbattles.com/first-...kabul-1842.htm

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:F...lnk&cd=3&gl=uk

Jim McDougall · 23rd October 2007, 05:43 AM

Afghan "khyber knives" come in of course many variations, and with the typical diffusion of weaponry it would be more than difficult to assign regional or tribal distinction in them. Whether these were paired against tulwars or other edged weapons is of course speculative, and as always situational. The British during the Raj, adopted all manner of costume and weaponry as a matter of exotica, whether they really understood the proper techniques in use or not, so it is not unusual to see officers wearing such items.

As a cardinal rule of collecting these weapons, for me at least..arrest any active rust or corrosion and leave patination and components static if possible. These are history, and deserve being preserved as is ,as much as possible.

21st October 2007, 09:09 PM	#1
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 230	Here is one of mine. This was recently brought back from Afghanistan. bbjw Attached Images

22nd October 2007, 02:11 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Richard, nice to hear from you (hows that scabbard coming ?) There were many battles fought in the Afghan Wars between the British / Indian soldiers and the Afghani Tribesmen. (some links below). Bearing in mind the strategic significance of the Khyber Pass, a lot of conflict has been centred there for centuries. The picture below has the caption "Captain Colin Mackenzie, Madras Army, after his release from captivity". Interestingly he is shown wearing a Khyber Knife, perhaps its popularity spread to some of the British/Indian soldiers ? http://www.britishbattles.com/first-...kabul-1842.htm http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:F...lnk&cd=3&gl=uk Attached Images Last edited by katana; 22nd October 2007 at 02:55 PM.

21st October 2007, 10:39 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi BBJW, thanks, a very nice example, love the hilt The scabbard fittings (on yours) look to be steel or silver ? It answers my question about metal work on the throat of the scabbard.... it would certainly re-enforce this vunerable area. Are there features (design, decoration) that could help date and 'tribally' ID Khyber Knives ? I am very impressed with the cutting ability of these blades ...the 'T' spine greatly strenghens and stiffens the blade but would prevent 'deep' cuts. It seems that there would be 'techniques' of sword use that were unique to this style of blade ? The stabbing action is obvious...but I wonder how this sword would be used against, say, a Tulwar, or a 'straight' sword.

22nd October 2007, 02:35 AM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	I don't mean to sound trite, but I don't think this knife would be used against a tulwar or straight sword,....just against the wielder of the above!.... Re the cutting ability, In the book Sahib, there are numerous accounts of British soldiers being cut almost in two with these knives,...after the bearer of the knife had been 'run through'. so it would appear that adrenalin, and a sharp knife will work, even if it has a T shaped back!

23rd October 2007, 05:43 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,592	Afghan "khyber knives" come in of course many variations, and with the typical diffusion of weaponry it would be more than difficult to assign regional or tribal distinction in them. Whether these were paired against tulwars or other edged weapons is of course speculative, and as always situational. The British during the Raj, adopted all manner of costume and weaponry as a matter of exotica, whether they really understood the proper techniques in use or not, so it is not unusual to see officers wearing such items. As a cardinal rule of collecting these weapons, for me at least..arrest any active rust or corrosion and leave patination and components static if possible. These are history, and deserve being preserved as is ,as much as possible.