Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Pesh-kabz dating.

mariusgmioc · 30th October 2022, 02:09 PM

Yep, this would be a typical zirah-bouk.
And I like it too!

I wonder if any forum member can post some images and information about a genuinely antique, 19th century zirah-bouk?! ��

I am asking because I haven't seen any in all the museums I have visited in India (and I have visited quite a few).

Moreover, from the practical point of view, all the zirah-bouks I have seen, while looking very impressive and attractive, are of almost no practical use whatsoever. The heavily recurved blade does not provide a good and stable transmission of the force to the tip of the knife, and the very thick tip is very badly suited for armour penetration. In fact, these knives because of their thickened tips are worse at armour penetration than pretty much any ordinary khanjar/jambiya or kard.

So, I suspect these knives are mostly a 20th century development for the tourist market.

30th October 2022, 02:09 PM	#11
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,878	Yep, this would be a typical zirah-bouk. And I like it too! I wonder if any forum member can post some images and information about a genuinely antique, 19th century zirah-bouk?! �� I am asking because I haven't seen any in all the museums I have visited in India (and I have visited quite a few). Moreover, from the practical point of view, all the zirah-bouks I have seen, while looking very impressive and attractive, are of almost no practical use whatsoever. The heavily recurved blade does not provide a good and stable transmission of the force to the tip of the knife, and the very thick tip is very badly suited for armour penetration. In fact, these knives because of their thickened tips are worse at armour penetration than pretty much any ordinary khanjar/jambiya or kard. So, I suspect these knives are mostly a 20th century development for the tourist market. Last edited by mariusgmioc; 30th October 2022 at 02:46 PM.