Khyber Sword
Khyber Sword
Pashtun
Emirate of Afghanistan (Afghanistan) - Punjab Province, British Raj (Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Pakistan)
Last quarter of the 19th century (ca. 1875 - 1880)
Steel, brass, bone
Blade: 58,7cm
Hilt & Blade: 73,7cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2017
Collection Number: 45
Ex. Rick Stroud (RSWORD): Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (2017)
A Pashtun sword from the area of the Khyber Pass Region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. A large production hub in Jalalabad also existed that produced these khyber swords among other locations in the region, stretching north to the capital Kabul and south into Northern India. This one is a typical Afghan Khyber example.
The blade is broad and single- edged, upcurving slightly near the point. Strong T- shaped cross- section spine beveled in the center. A fuller follows the spine for approximately 3/4 of the blade's length with horizontal linear engravings near the hilt. Hints of a watered pattern can be seen throughout the blade with significant cloudiness due to heat treat. Iron multi- faceted bolster with a brass ferrule strip. Iron backstrap retaining the original brass lanyard pendant. The hilt is composed of two bone scales for the grip held in place by three iron nails. An old collection tag is present on one side reading " D997," possibly a former museum piece. A good village quality khyber sword from around the second Anglo-Afghan War period.
[1] Miloserdov, Dmitry Yurievich. 2019. “Edged Weapons of Afghanistan”. Page 206 – 218, Pages 266 – 267
[2] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_As1963-13-5-a
[3] https://oriental-arms.com/product/fine-and-complete-khyber-sword-in-semi-mil-scabbard/