Banochie Afghan Folding Lohar

Jim McDougall · 6th January 2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBJW

Some photos of my lohars. I wish my fixed blade one was in better cond., but it is very old and I was lucky to find it.

bbjw

Outstanding group of Afghan weapons BJ.
I like seeing the contrast of the old fixed blade lohar next to the more modern folding blade example. It seems I read somewhere these started being made that way in about the 1920's, but since I cant cite, the reference is pretty much moot.
They look kinda like an Afghan 'navaja' !!

BTW , good one on the holster from an Afghan Navy Colt Tim

FenrisWolf · 19th August 2008, 08:44 AM

Two comments on the functionality of these as weapons as opposed to work implements. One, some of the mountain tribes used hide or metal shields in combat; the lohar would be an effective way of hooking such a shield and pulling it aside to allow for a blow from one's primary weapon. As for the awkwardness or 'tourist' value of a folding version, a little experimentaion on my part proved that a well-maintained example would open quickly with the snap of the wrist, much like a gravity knife. A shoulder holster would provide a primitive version of a 'concealed carry' weapon.

Yannis · 19th August 2008, 09:27 AM

Nice lohars gentlemen.

I think that the holster comes from a karud. I had a similar one

Jim McDougall · 19th August 2008, 04:59 PM

This was really an interesting topic, and the lohar a quite unusual weapon (despite all the discussion on candy picks etc.).
On the fixed blade example posted by Bill, I just noticed there are red dots placed on the motif, though they seem indiscriminate in number. As I mentioned some time ago on another thread, and in this thread, the mysterious cult of the Thuggee used a small pickaxe with considerable ceremony in thier depradations. Although I have never found evidence of any of these Thuggee pickaxes ever having survived after the presumed suppression of the cult, the contemporary narratives occasionally mention that there were seven red dots strategically placed on the head of the axe.

I wonder of the red dots on Bills lohar might have any connection ? It seems that red often appears highlighting symbolic motif on sacrificial weapons in India and Nepal, and I am wondering about that symbolism as well.

Anyone have thoughts or observations on the red dots or use of red coloring on ceremonial weapons?

kronckew · 19th August 2008, 06:29 PM

sheath reminds me of a UK sword frog : one variant

19th August 2008, 08:44 AM	#2
FenrisWolf Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 181	Two comments on the functionality of these as weapons as opposed to work implements. One, some of the mountain tribes used hide or metal shields in combat; the lohar would be an effective way of hooking such a shield and pulling it aside to allow for a blow from one's primary weapon. As for the awkwardness or 'tourist' value of a folding version, a little experimentaion on my part proved that a well-maintained example would open quickly with the snap of the wrist, much like a gravity knife. A shoulder holster would provide a primitive version of a 'concealed carry' weapon.

19th August 2008, 09:27 AM	#3
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Nice lohars gentlemen. I think that the holster comes from a karud. I had a similar one

19th August 2008, 04:59 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	This was really an interesting topic, and the lohar a quite unusual weapon (despite all the discussion on candy picks etc.). On the fixed blade example posted by Bill, I just noticed there are red dots placed on the motif, though they seem indiscriminate in number. As I mentioned some time ago on another thread, and in this thread, the mysterious cult of the Thuggee used a small pickaxe with considerable ceremony in thier depradations. Although I have never found evidence of any of these Thuggee pickaxes ever having survived after the presumed suppression of the cult, the contemporary narratives occasionally mention that there were seven red dots strategically placed on the head of the axe. I wonder of the red dots on Bills lohar might have any connection ? It seems that red often appears highlighting symbolic motif on sacrificial weapons in India and Nepal, and I am wondering about that symbolism as well. Anyone have thoughts or observations on the red dots or use of red coloring on ceremonial weapons?

19th August 2008, 06:29 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	sheath reminds me of a UK sword frog : one variant