Help with Afghan knife ID

theMarmotGuy · 26th April 2015, 11:32 AM

I have an item that just narrowly escaped the dump. I retrieved it from a house that I was tasked with "clearing for re-sale" after a marital/mental/financial breakdown. Knowing nothing about knives except the Swiss Army variety, I wish to gain some further appreciation of what "IT" is.

I know nothing about provenance, but I do know that the owner was ex-Canadian Forces, served in Afghanistan, and is currently under full-time physician care. My desire is to preserve this item, document it, and perhaps learn interesting things in the process. In a perfect world the ex-serviceman might want it back someday, and if your forum members could help, perhaps that could happen with an enhanced appreciation of the souvenir that he brought home...and then intentionally left behind.

The piece?
- it's hefty and solid (475 grams)
- full tang, wooden handle
- the engraving is asymmetrical
- the map of Afghanistan shows some interesting boundary issues
- the deer engraving is interesting in that the deer lack antlers (presumably a musk deer that was thought to have become extinct circa 1948?)

Restoration work?
- I wished I'd photographed it in situ. It was rusted and looked like junk.
- Only treatment so far has been WD-40 and elbow-grease.

I'll try to make some better images as the quality of the engraving is really nice. Sorry for my long-winded email, but I was dumbfounded when I couldn't find anything even remotely similar in blade-shape, construction or finishing.

Best wishes from Canada,
Andrew

Robert · 27th April 2015, 06:43 AM

TheMarmotGuy, I hope that you do not mind, but I have taken the liberty to do a little editing to your photos to help those how will be trying to help answer the questions that you have ask about this item.

Best,
Robert

spiral · 27th April 2015, 02:17 PM

Its a modern tourist souvenir, made to be sold to tourists.

Ian · 27th April 2015, 06:12 PM

Agree with Spiral. This is an Afghan attempt to imitate a Nepalese kukri, even down to the stylized cho at forte. The inscription of "Afghanistan" on the blade indicates it is a decorative item for the American/European tourist, and the lavish file work and chiseled embellishments are to make it more appealing to the Western tourist's eye.

Ian.

AJ1356 · 27th April 2015, 07:01 PM

A little not so well known fact about hese, they are made out of old car parts, like frames, leave springs, and what not, flattened and then grinded into whatever shape, no actual blacksmithing involved at all.

Tim Simmons · 27th April 2015, 07:06 PM

That's how a lot of new expensive Bowie and other knives are made, by most of the prestige knife makers. Produced ground from bar stock steel.

26th April 2015, 11:32 AM	#1
theMarmotGuy Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 2	Help with Afghan knife ID I have an item that just narrowly escaped the dump. I retrieved it from a house that I was tasked with "clearing for re-sale" after a marital/mental/financial breakdown. Knowing nothing about knives except the Swiss Army variety, I wish to gain some further appreciation of what "IT" is. I know nothing about provenance, but I do know that the owner was ex-Canadian Forces, served in Afghanistan, and is currently under full-time physician care. My desire is to preserve this item, document it, and perhaps learn interesting things in the process. In a perfect world the ex-serviceman might want it back someday, and if your forum members could help, perhaps that could happen with an enhanced appreciation of the souvenir that he brought home...and then intentionally left behind. The piece? - it's hefty and solid (475 grams) - full tang, wooden handle - the engraving is asymmetrical - the map of Afghanistan shows some interesting boundary issues - the deer engraving is interesting in that the deer lack antlers (presumably a musk deer that was thought to have become extinct circa 1948?) Restoration work? - I wished I'd photographed it in situ. It was rusted and looked like junk. - Only treatment so far has been WD-40 and elbow-grease. I'll try to make some better images as the quality of the engraving is really nice. Sorry for my long-winded email, but I was dumbfounded when I couldn't find anything even remotely similar in blade-shape, construction or finishing. Best wishes from Canada, Andrew Attached Images

27th April 2015, 06:43 AM	#2
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	TheMarmotGuy, I hope that you do not mind, but I have taken the liberty to do a little editing to your photos to help those how will be trying to help answer the questions that you have ask about this item. Best, Robert Attached Images Last edited by Robert; 27th April 2015 at 04:44 PM.

27th April 2015, 02:17 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Its a modern tourist souvenir, made to be sold to tourists.

27th April 2015, 06:12 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,522	Agree with Spiral. This is an Afghan attempt to imitate a Nepalese kukri, even down to the stylized cho at forte. The inscription of "Afghanistan" on the blade indicates it is a decorative item for the American/European tourist, and the lavish file work and chiseled embellishments are to make it more appealing to the Western tourist's eye. Ian.

27th April 2015, 07:01 PM	#5
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	A little not so well known fact about hese, they are made out of old car parts, like frames, leave springs, and what not, flattened and then grinded into whatever shape, no actual blacksmithing involved at all.

27th April 2015, 07:06 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	That's how a lot of new expensive Bowie and other knives are made, by most of the prestige knife makers. Produced ground from bar stock steel.