Khyber knife

scratch · 25th April 2008, 05:23 AM

G'day

I was hoping someone could tell me what type of horn the pommmel is? the grain is rougher and stickier than the buffalo grips I have. Also is this an Afridi tribal piece? Would the two tone birdhead grip indicate status? Any thoughts/advice is very welcome.
Overall length 27 in
Blade length 21 3/4 in
Weight 21 oz

Kind regards,

Daniel

Lew · 25th April 2008, 05:33 AM

Nice 20th century example 1930s I think.

Lew

Gavin Nugent · 25th April 2008, 08:42 AM

Nice blade Dan, I have always had a love for these blades but have never ventured to buy one.

Lew, you put this piece at a guess around 1930's. Are there any definitive reference books or internet links for identifying and dating there wonderful knives?

regards

Gav

scratch · 25th April 2008, 09:18 AM

Hello Lew

Would a 1930's attribution infer a British officer piece?
They feel efficient pieces, to me. The scabbard is carved, in style, under chape. Is this incongruent?
Hello Gav

Thanks for your interest! I have included a blade close up of markings for you.
What does the design on forte/spine mean? armoury? I would be pleased to know the geographical location of manufacture, as I would with the barong you kindly expressed interest in.

Best regards,

Dan

katana · 25th April 2008, 03:38 PM

Would I be right in saying that later examples have 2 slabs of bone/ivory/horn/wood either side and earlier examples tend to have 1 on each side.....or is this an 'over-simplification' ?

Nice knife Dan

Regards David

ward · 25th April 2008, 03:54 PM

that would be a good general rule

Lew · 25th April 2008, 03:58 PM

Scratch

The blade itself may be older but the hilt and scabbard seem to be 1930s Red shirt rebellion era. The craftmanship on the hilt and scabbard are not of the same quality as you see on the 19th century swords. Can you post a close up of the bolsters on the hilt.

Lew

scratch · 26th April 2008, 12:58 AM

Hello David and Ward, Thank you for guidelines on grip dating

Lew, Thank you for Red Shirt Rebellion info. I have included bolster photos for you. there is some rough soldering. What is the metal under plating of bolster? It is not steel

Cheers,

Dan

Lew · 26th April 2008, 07:46 AM

I think this is a late 19th century sword that was rehilted in the early 20th century. Bolster looks older with signs of better craftmanship Most of the older ones I have seen were fitted via some type of solder. Below is a 1930 era one the belonged to a British soldier Red shirt rebellion. I have added a few different style hilts for comparison.

Lew

katana · 26th April 2008, 01:54 PM

Lew, I like the 'hilt comparison' pictures....

They are not all yours ...are they ? Surely you haven't the 'room' with all those Sudanese Arm Daggers

Dan,
I think it unusual that the scabbard is carved wood....all the ones I have seen are leather (usually goat) over a wooden core. I think Lew is 'bang on' with the blade being older ....

Thanks Ward for 'clarifying' the hilt 'slabs' / age identification

Regards David

Lew · 26th April 2008, 02:14 PM

Katana

Do I wish these were all mine! I copied them from Artzi's website.

Lew

ward · 26th April 2008, 08:28 PM

various examples 3/4 of them are wootz

katana · 26th April 2008, 09:44 PM

Very nice group Ward

scratch · 27th April 2008, 08:45 AM

Lew, Thanks for your help and for taking the time to collate hilt comparison photos

very useful I think.
Ward, Thanks for sharing such wonderful quality examples

would use of wootz infer Indian manufacture?
David and Gav, Thanks for your interest and input

Kind regards,

Dan

25th April 2008, 05:23 AM	#1
scratch Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 96	Khyber knife G'day I was hoping someone could tell me what type of horn the pommmel is? the grain is rougher and stickier than the buffalo grips I have. Also is this an Afridi tribal piece? Would the two tone birdhead grip indicate status? Any thoughts/advice is very welcome. Overall length 27 in Blade length 21 3/4 in Weight 21 oz Kind regards, Daniel Attached Images

25th April 2008, 08:42 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	dating these? Nice blade Dan, I have always had a love for these blades but have never ventured to buy one. Lew, you put this piece at a guess around 1930's. Are there any definitive reference books or internet links for identifying and dating there wonderful knives? regards Gav

25th April 2008, 09:18 AM	#4
scratch Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 96	Hello Lew Would a 1930's attribution infer a British officer piece? They feel efficient pieces, to me. The scabbard is carved, in style, under chape. Is this incongruent? Hello Gav Thanks for your interest! I have included a blade close up of markings for you. What does the design on forte/spine mean? armoury? I would be pleased to know the geographical location of manufacture, as I would with the barong you kindly expressed interest in. Best regards, Dan Attached Images

26th April 2008, 12:58 AM	#8
scratch Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 96	Hello David and Ward, Thank you for guidelines on grip dating Lew, Thank you for Red Shirt Rebellion info. I have included bolster photos for you. there is some rough soldering. What is the metal under plating of bolster? It is not steel Cheers, Dan Attached Images

26th April 2008, 07:46 AM	#9
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I think this is a late 19th century sword that was rehilted in the early 20th century. Bolster looks older with signs of better craftmanship Most of the older ones I have seen were fitted via some type of solder. Below is a 1930 era one the belonged to a British soldier Red shirt rebellion. I have added a few different style hilts for comparison. Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 26th April 2008 at 08:18 AM.

25th April 2008, 05:33 AM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Nice 20th century example 1930s I think. Lew

25th April 2008, 03:38 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Would I be right in saying that later examples have 2 slabs of bone/ivory/horn/wood either side and earlier examples tend to have 1 on each side.....or is this an 'over-simplification' ? Nice knife Dan Regards David

25th April 2008, 03:54 PM	#6
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	that would be a good general rule

25th April 2008, 03:58 PM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Scratch The blade itself may be older but the hilt and scabbard seem to be 1930s Red shirt rebellion era. The craftmanship on the hilt and scabbard are not of the same quality as you see on the 19th century swords. Can you post a close up of the bolsters on the hilt. Lew

26th April 2008, 01:54 PM	#10
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Lew, I like the 'hilt comparison' pictures.... They are not all yours ...are they ? Surely you haven't the 'room' with all those Sudanese Arm Daggers Dan, I think it unusual that the scabbard is carved wood....all the ones I have seen are leather (usually goat) over a wooden core. I think Lew is 'bang on' with the blade being older .... Thanks Ward for 'clarifying' the hilt 'slabs' / age identification Regards David

26th April 2008, 02:14 PM	#11
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Katana Do I wish these were all mine! I copied them from Artzi's website. Lew

26th April 2008, 08:28 PM	#12
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	various examples 3/4 of them are wootz Attached Images

26th April 2008, 09:44 PM	#13
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Very nice group Ward

27th April 2008, 08:45 AM	#14
scratch Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 96	Lew, Thanks for your help and for taking the time to collate hilt comparison photos very useful I think. Ward, Thanks for sharing such wonderful quality examples would use of wootz infer Indian manufacture? David and Gav, Thanks for your interest and input Kind regards, Dan