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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 725

An Afghan Churra or 'Khyber Knife' and Scabbard

of traditional form, the T-section plain steel blade forged in one piece with the tang, which terminates in a forged loop; the blade's collar and exposed tang-sides possibly silver-plated; the pommel in the form of a stylised bird's head; the grips of bone or ivory fixed to the tang by 4 iron rivets; the scabbard of reinforced black leather sewn along one side, with two raised decorative bands at the throat and a pierced brass chape terminating in an acorn finial; some wear, with corrosion and staining to the blade and slight damage to the scabbard throat; overall length 680mm; blade length 560mm and 55mm wide at the shoulder.

Edged weapons of this type have been associated with the north-west of the Indian sub-continent for centuries, their use shading from Persia through Afghanistan into northern Pakistan. Varying in size, and also in nomenclature depending upon that size and their cultural origin, they were popular souvenirs and battlefield trophies collected by British soldiers who campaigned there during the 19th and early 20th centuries.



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Sold for
£90