Go on...show us your Choora!!

[Gavin Nugent]

Here are some Ariel, a perfectly preserved pair of Wootz Bukharan pichoq, turquoise encrusted silver hilts with garnet, silver and Niello bolsters sitting in their original cloth suspension with silver dressed and gilded sheaths attached.

I understand this type of item to be political gifts and also circa 1900, give or take a couple of decades.

With regards to the Choora I presented, the chiselled spine designs appear very true to the region as does the polished sections of the blade being a NW Indian thing to my knowledge. Of course the polished panels could be added anytime by someone with the knowledge to do so.

Gavin

[David R]

Here's my example, more of a Khyber Knife being 58cm long in total, but described as a Choora by Ian B at the Armouries. Bought a few years ago, before the recent involvement and so most likely dating to an earlier Imperial campaign. 19thC?

[Gavin Nugent]

Certainly a Khyber knife David, it doesn't follow the form of the Choora despite some aspects having a shared similarity.

Gavin

[ariel]

Thanks Gavin,
Good beginning of a database. The main problem is that it is likely to be Bukhara and Afghanistan.


Capt. Masalski saw manufacture of Central-Asian wootz in the 1850s if my memory is correct.


Any documented evidence of its production in Afganistan proper, especially around the Khyber Pass? Kabul or Jellalabad, as per Egerton?

[ariel]

DavidR:
Can you show magnified pic? I can' t see wootz pattern.

[David R]

ariel, I do not think this is wootz, more likely a folded steel.

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by David R

ariel, I do not think this is wootz, more likely a folded steel.

I am of the same opinion!
Kurt