A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

  • A Fine Wootz Pesh- Kabz

A Fine Wootz Indian Pesh- Kabz
Northern India (Punjab, Sindh, Rathasthan - India, Pakistan)
Late 18th century (ca. 1750 - 1800)
High contrast watered wootz steel blade, t-spine and steel bolster, walrus ivory grips, gold koftgari, silk over wood sheath
Blade: 24,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 35,6cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 50,8cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 282

Ex. Auctions Imperial: Chatsworth, California, USA (2022)

A fine pesh-kabz dagger originating in the North Indian region with strong Persian influence. The steel blade is single-edged and recurved with high-contrast kara watered wootz. Steel bolster and t-spine. One segment of the spine is forged in a lotus flower. The blade edge raised and chamfered with a central ridge developing into an armor pierecing tip. A small stippled untranslated mark located on one side, possible an armory register. Gold kofgari floral panels on both the blade and bolster. Gold kofgari on the spine, "Victory from God and Conquest Nigh!"

Walrus ivory scale grips. The top backstrap would have originally been steel with gold koftgari but has since been replaced with strips of ivory, an old but later replacement. The sheath is wood covered by red silk with gold floral embroidered design. The sheath is not the original but still has some age (19th century).

Holstein lists a similar example originating from Bahawalpur, Punjab, and others from Sindh. While Oliver S. Pinchot describes another example from probably Udaipur in "Arms of the Paladins".