Afghan dagger overall
This item has been sold.
Overall length

Sheathed 47 cm

Dagger 40.4 cm

Blade length

27.7 cm

Blade thickness

T-spine

Base 11 mm

Middle 8 mm

3 cm from tip 6 mm

Edge side

Base 3 mm

Middle 2.5 mm

3 cm from tip 3 mm

Blade width

Base 45 mm

Middle 23 mm

3 cm from tip 11 mm

Weight without scabbard

328 grams

Point of balance

10 mm from hilt

Materials

Iron, steel, horn, brass.

Origin

Afghanistan / Pakistan

Dating

Late 19th - early 20th century

Provenance

From the collection of Han Hendriks 1919-2008.

Sold

Interested?
Anything similar for sale?

Contact me

Description

An antique dagger, of a type that could be called pesh-kabz. Such daggers were worn among others by the Pashtun of the Khyber region.1

It has a long, slender blade with T-shaped spine reinforcement that provides great stiffness to an otherwise thin blade. A secondary bevel forms the still very sharp edge. It has a steel bolster and steel hilt, with on either side a slab of horn with a nice gradient from blond do darker brown near the pommel.

The top of the spine is chiseled to form a ridgeline and there is some engraved decoration in the Persian style. On top of the steel bolster is written "٢١", 21 in Arabic numerals.

The wooden scabbard is covered with brass plating, punched and chased with with traditional motifs. It has a characteristic upturned scabbard end.

 

John Burke

Two Afghan tribesmen, Second Afghan War.
Photo by John Burke, circa 1879-1880.
Notice the upturned scabbard end.

 

Provenance

The piece comes from Han Hendriks (1919-2008), a notable Dutch blacksmith with a forge in the Balistraat, The Hague. He kept a study collection of antique ironwork from around the world, some of which I have been able to purchase from his descendants.

 

Notes
1. Egerton illustrates an example that comes from Bannu, in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. See: Lord Egerton of Tatton: Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour. Dover Publications; Revised edition, 2002. Page 130, number 624 & plate XIV.

Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife
Antique Afghan knife

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me
Currently available:

Somewhat worn but once very high-quality, with great sculptural qualities and remains of silver "true…

€2300,-

An interesting South Indian style katar with an imported European blade.

€650,-

With all silver construction, including the blade.

€1600,-

Thought to have been presented by the Royal House of Nepal.

€3000,-

Rarely seen today, a commoner's example with carved, bone hilt.

€300,-

Of nice quality, with unusual openwork silver bolster with serapendiya.

€1500,-