Beautiful 19th Century Indo Persian Pesh-Kabz (Chura) Dagger with Red Leather Covered Wooden Sheath

Here on offer is a fine example of a 19th Century Indo Persian Pesh-Kabz (Chura) dagger with red leather covered wooden sheath.

I believe this is a shorter version of the normally longer Pesh-Kabz, that is also known as the Chura, that is used by the Mahsud clan of the Pashtun Khyber tribe, from Afghanistan.

These daggers were used as an armour piercing punch dagger. Upon striking a coat of mail, this reinforced tip spreads the chain link apart, enabling the rest of the blade to penetrate the armour. However, the wide hollow-ground blade also possesses considerable slicing performance and as such may also be used effectively with slashing or cutting strokes. Its ability to be used as either a cutting or thrusting weapon means it has been classed as a fighting dagger.

The grip on this example is made up of a central brass spine fitted with a beautiful polished serpentine, false Jade, hooked pommel and ferrell collar. The centre section is made up of sections of alternating Mother of Pearl and Onyx, contained within thin brass patterned lines set with a red “coral’ type material. There is a small protruding loop and brass ring on the top of the pommel.

The dagger has a 5 “hollow ground steel recurved blade that is etched on both sides with an ornate random “seaweed” pattern, that is now slightly faint in some areas.

There is also a long fuller to both sides and it retains a very sharp single cutting edge.

It has a thick spine bearing a "T" cross-section for strength and rigidity and as it features a recurved blade, it suggests its Persian in origin.

The dagger is broad at the hilt, but tapers progressively and radically to a needle-like, triangular tip. The very end of the tip has been broken off of this example and there is some slight dark pitting marks towards the tip, that may clean off.

It retains its original sheath, that is constructed of red leather fitted and stitched over wood, that is in excellent condition.

Some history of the Pesh-Kabz dagger.

The Pesh-Kabz originated in Safavid Persia and is believed to have been created sometime in the 17th century to overcome the mail armour worn by mounted and foot soldiers of the day. It soon spread to neighbouring Afghanistan and Central Asia before eventually being introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Mughals. After armour ceased to be worn by modern armies, the Pesh-Kabz retained its utility as a close combat knife, and many Pashtun tribesmen, particularly the Mahsud, Afridi and Shinwari clans, continued to use the design, along with the Chura and Kard.

The blade measures 5” (12.7cm) and the knife itself is 8.75” (22.3cm) long, including the ring.

It weighs 62g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Code: 51847