A Fine Khyber Sword
Pashtun / Mashud / Afridi / Karlani / Ghilzai or surrounding tribes
Khyber Pass, Punjab Province, British India (Khyber Pass, Pakistan) - Jalalabad, Emirate of Afghanistan (Jalalabad, Afghanistan)
Last half 19th century (ca. 1875)
Steel, brass, marine ivory (walrus)
Blade: 57,2cm
Hilt & Blade: 70,5cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2018
Collection Number: 90

A fine sword from the area of the Khyber Pass Region of Afghanistan and India, now present-day Pakistan. There was also a large production hub in Jalalabad 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 fine Afghan example.

The blade is single- edged straight, of crucible steel with a slight upcurve near the point. Strong T-spine with a single fuller below. Linear and dashed engravings are present for the first 1/4 length on both sides in typical Afghan decoration. Iron ferrule with a notched brass spacer. The hilt is composed of two marine ivory (walrus) scales for grip. One segment was a later repair of bone replacement. Iron backstrap. Missing its original sheath. Despite the hilt repair, this khyber sword is a great example, robust, heavy blade and well-balanced.

Photo 8: Khyber warrior with sword, date & location unknown.

• Miloserdov, Dmitry Yurievich, Edged Weapons of Afghanistan, 2019, Pages 206 – 223, Pages 266 – 267.