Afghan Parra-I-Tutti/ Pesh

archer · 21st March 2010, 10:32 PM

Robert you got Me thinking, doesn't often happen. The USAF had Me spend a year in NW Pakistan in the sixties. They had Hungarian Partridge. Found this:
kowk-bazi makes partridges into fighters. Released from their special cages and carefully bred, these small birds go at each other under the watchful eye of referees. When it becomes clear which partridge is "chicken," the match ends, since as in most of these animal fights (which range up to dogs and camels), the prized creatures are too valuable to have injured or killed. A mesmerized betting circle of men stands around at 5 am before a long working day at the old fortress in Tashqurghan.

Alantia this photo exaggerates a bit. The last 1/4 inch of the blade has 1/8 inch
sideways bend to the right I would guess it wasn't made that way but is the result of damage. I've looked through My books and can't find the final blade reversal on anything. Perhaps it's a personal preference? I'd still like to see some other examples of this odd Afghan Pesh Kabz.

ALEX · 22nd March 2010, 02:16 PM

See, and read, the post from another forum:
http://swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=138345
Please look at the pictures at the top, these daggers are sold around the world as anything between 17th to early 20th C period items. It's ok for people who collect knifes (and not antique knifes!). Absolutely nothing wrong with it. Whats important is to realize that it takes more than the presence of chiseling, inlay, form, shape, stamp, the reference picture in the book etc. etc. to determine the authenticity.

ariel · 22nd March 2010, 02:26 PM

With this bird-mark, we can recognize a new subtype of Para-i-Tutti: Parakeet-Tutti :-)

archer · 22nd March 2010, 09:47 PM

Actually, the term Para-I-Tutti is from Tiris' book "Islamic weapons". He uses it to describe another conventional Pesh Kabez on the next page.
I'm aware of the ongoing reproductions out there and this may well be one. I have just seen one of these blade tip hooks now on I'm sure a recent dagger.
That hook may well be made up from someones imagination or from observations. If we don't see lots of these suddenly on the market, that maybe the style is valid, if not with the hook. In the mean time I'll crackup watching the birdie! Thank you all, Steve

Montino Bourbon · 23rd March 2010, 02:50 AM

I bid on it too; it was usual enough to interest me.

if I had gotten it, I think I would've straightened the tip if it was a sideways bend. not so hard to do, and then re-temper. I know, I know; the authenticity and all, but I like my blades be functional. When you're in a hurry at the supermarket, you don't want a blade with bent tip to slow you down!

21st March 2010, 10:32 PM	#1
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	More followup Robert you got Me thinking, doesn't often happen. The USAF had Me spend a year in NW Pakistan in the sixties. They had Hungarian Partridge. Found this: kowk-bazi makes partridges into fighters. Released from their special cages and carefully bred, these small birds go at each other under the watchful eye of referees. When it becomes clear which partridge is "chicken," the match ends, since as in most of these animal fights (which range up to dogs and camels), the prized creatures are too valuable to have injured or killed. A mesmerized betting circle of men stands around at 5 am before a long working day at the old fortress in Tashqurghan. Alantia this photo exaggerates a bit. The last 1/4 inch of the blade has 1/8 inch sideways bend to the right I would guess it wasn't made that way but is the result of damage. I've looked through My books and can't find the final blade reversal on anything. Perhaps it's a personal preference? I'd still like to see some other examples of this odd Afghan Pesh Kabz. Last edited by archer; 22nd March 2010 at 12:41 AM.

22nd March 2010, 09:47 PM	#4
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	More Actually, the term Para-I-Tutti is from Tiris' book "Islamic weapons". He uses it to describe another conventional Pesh Kabez on the next page. I'm aware of the ongoing reproductions out there and this may well be one. I have just seen one of these blade tip hooks now on I'm sure a recent dagger. That hook may well be made up from someones imagination or from observations. If we don't see lots of these suddenly on the market, that maybe the style is valid, if not with the hook. In the mean time I'll crackup watching the birdie! Thank you all, Steve

23rd March 2010, 02:50 AM	#5
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	so you got it! I bid on it too; it was usual enough to interest me. if I had gotten it, I think I would've straightened the tip if it was a sideways bend. not so hard to do, and then re-temper. I know, I know; the authenticity and all, but I like my blades be functional. When you're in a hurry at the supermarket, you don't want a blade with bent tip to slow you down!

22nd March 2010, 02:16 PM	#2
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	See, and read, the post from another forum: http://swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=138345 Please look at the pictures at the top, these daggers are sold around the world as anything between 17th to early 20th C period items. It's ok for people who collect knifes (and not antique knifes!). Absolutely nothing wrong with it. Whats important is to realize that it takes more than the presence of chiseling, inlay, form, shape, stamp, the reference picture in the book etc. etc. to determine the authenticity.

22nd March 2010, 02:26 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	With this bird-mark, we can recognize a new subtype of Para-i-Tutti: Parakeet-Tutti :-)