Afghan maybe

Jim McDougall · 10th March 2006, 12:25 AM

The photo of General Daoud Shah is from "Northwest Frontier: People and Events 1839-1947" by Arthur Swinson (N.Y.1967).
I found this photo while researching one of these swords with a southern Calif. colleague in 1998. The example we were researching carried the date 1314 A.H. (1896 AD) and an arsenal mark reflecting the facade of the masjid at Mazir-i-Sharif. These were claimed to have been carried by bodyguards of Abdur Rahman Khan (r.1881-1901).
I have seen identifications of these swords from prior to that time in catalogs etc. ranging from 'Greek' to 'Spanish' with the arsenal mark claimed to be the 'Pillars of Hercules'!

It seems that later editions of these swords carry composite components including often brass guards and knucklebows and there are examples of these hilts on Khyber Knives...many of these are believed to have been used in the 3rd Afghan War in 1919.

Best regards,
Jim

10th March 2006, 12:25 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,295	The photo of General Daoud Shah is from "Northwest Frontier: People and Events 1839-1947" by Arthur Swinson (N.Y.1967). I found this photo while researching one of these swords with a southern Calif. colleague in 1998. The example we were researching carried the date 1314 A.H. (1896 AD) and an arsenal mark reflecting the facade of the masjid at Mazir-i-Sharif. These were claimed to have been carried by bodyguards of Abdur Rahman Khan (r.1881-1901). I have seen identifications of these swords from prior to that time in catalogs etc. ranging from 'Greek' to 'Spanish' with the arsenal mark claimed to be the 'Pillars of Hercules'! It seems that later editions of these swords carry composite components including often brass guards and knucklebows and there are examples of these hilts on Khyber Knives...many of these are believed to have been used in the 3rd Afghan War in 1919. Best regards, Jim