Kyber Collection

trenchwarfare · 30th August 2012, 04:10 AM

Where were we...

My observations

From the top:

The first piece I'd guess, is post WWII. It has the little circle disigns, you often see from this era. From North Africa, to India. Hilt is ram's horn, and steel. Suede covered wood scabbard, with galvanized sheet metal fittings.

The second knife, looks to be old, with a plain wood handle. Nice patina, with a small amount of decoration. Several forging flaws. Military scabbard.

Number three, has an identical patina, and is also lightly decorated. Horn, and steel handle looks to be a fairly recent replacement. Military scabbard.

The blade on number four has an old looking patina, but also the unusual Indo Persian engraving. Hilt is horn, bone, and steel, and looks replaced. Scabbard is soft leather, over sheet metal.

The two on the right, are missing scabbards: The larger one, looks to be the newest, at less than 20 years old. Hilt is brass, ram, and steel. The smaller one, has the same patina, as the two in military scabbards. And is similarly decorated. Hilt is ram, and steel. It's missing the steel portion of the hilt, on the opposite side.

The hilt of the "orange" Choora, is made of ivory-celuloid. If made in the US, I'd say 1920-40. Elsewhere in the world, I don't know. Workmanship is good, but looks like production work.

The smaller one, does have an ivory hilt, and is very well made, and decorated. I think it is pretty old, and was made for someone of status.

The smallest one, is tourista all the way. Bone and brass handle, with the same little circles. Post WWII.

The grips on the light handled Pesh-kabz, are ram's horn, and were replaced, a very long time ago. Blade looks very old, with deep pitting. Some decoration on the spine. I believe it to be the oldest.

The dark handle, is horn, and has several repairs. Blade has the most pleasing patina, and has never been sharpened since it was made. I think it is very old, as well.

Well, that's my long winded observations, of an area I know next to nothing about.

mross · 30th August 2012, 03:25 PM

All I have to add is that cache is the bargain of a lifetime. Looks like you just found yourself a niche!

trenchwarfare · 31st August 2012, 04:41 AM

I have a severe case of C.A.D.D. (Collector's Attention Deficit Disorder) I find my niche, all the time!

I did a close examination of all the blades with a glass. Without an etching, The only blade that's wootz, is the black Pesh-kabz. And, I think it has rhino grip panels!!! I'm not fimiliar to the properties of rhino, but I see a definate pattern, that's not found in bovine, or other type horn. The white dagger is deeply pitted, and has deep scratches from being "cleaned".

Rick · 31st August 2012, 07:21 PM

If you hold a Rhino hilt in your wet hand it will stick to the skin; not like glue, but it will not feel slippery that is .

trenchwarfare · 31st August 2012, 08:38 PM

It sticks!!!

Rick · 31st August 2012, 10:52 PM

Good for the 'wet work' .

spiral · 1st September 2012, 12:28 AM

O wow , dont know why i bother to post this, guess its just I like stuff like the truth & facts, rather than , imagination,supposition, old wives tales & fantasy. Close up photos particlarily of the end grain are neccasary to identify Rhino horn.

So many collectors seem unable to tell the differance between unusualy coloured & fiberous buffalo or goat horn & rhino.

{Guess that makes a few dealers happy though.

}

And after allAny horn thats realy dry will grab a sweaty paw in a fiberous thirsty manner!

If it rhino , Bukaran or some such, Its the differance between a $100 knife & a $1500 knife.

Good pics will tell the truth.

Spiral

30th August 2012, 04:10 AM	#1
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Where were we... My observations From the top: The first piece I'd guess, is post WWII. It has the little circle disigns, you often see from this era. From North Africa, to India. Hilt is ram's horn, and steel. Suede covered wood scabbard, with galvanized sheet metal fittings. The second knife, looks to be old, with a plain wood handle. Nice patina, with a small amount of decoration. Several forging flaws. Military scabbard. Number three, has an identical patina, and is also lightly decorated. Horn, and steel handle looks to be a fairly recent replacement. Military scabbard. The blade on number four has an old looking patina, but also the unusual Indo Persian engraving. Hilt is horn, bone, and steel, and looks replaced. Scabbard is soft leather, over sheet metal. The two on the right, are missing scabbards: The larger one, looks to be the newest, at less than 20 years old. Hilt is brass, ram, and steel. The smaller one, has the same patina, as the two in military scabbards. And is similarly decorated. Hilt is ram, and steel. It's missing the steel portion of the hilt, on the opposite side. The hilt of the "orange" Choora, is made of ivory-celuloid. If made in the US, I'd say 1920-40. Elsewhere in the world, I don't know. Workmanship is good, but looks like production work. The smaller one, does have an ivory hilt, and is very well made, and decorated. I think it is pretty old, and was made for someone of status. The smallest one, is tourista all the way. Bone and brass handle, with the same little circles. Post WWII. The grips on the light handled Pesh-kabz, are ram's horn, and were replaced, a very long time ago. Blade looks very old, with deep pitting. Some decoration on the spine. I believe it to be the oldest. The dark handle, is horn, and has several repairs. Blade has the most pleasing patina, and has never been sharpened since it was made. I think it is very old, as well. Well, that's my long winded observations, of an area I know next to nothing about. Attached Images

30th August 2012, 03:25 PM	#2
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	All I have to add is that cache is the bargain of a lifetime. Looks like you just found yourself a niche!

31st August 2012, 04:41 AM	#3
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	I have a severe case of C.A.D.D. (Collector's Attention Deficit Disorder) I find my niche, all the time! I did a close examination of all the blades with a glass. Without an etching, The only blade that's wootz, is the black Pesh-kabz. And, I think it has rhino grip panels!!! I'm not fimiliar to the properties of rhino, but I see a definate pattern, that's not found in bovine, or other type horn. The white dagger is deeply pitted, and has deep scratches from being "cleaned".

31st August 2012, 07:21 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,378	If you hold a Rhino hilt in your wet hand it will stick to the skin; not like glue, but it will not feel slippery that is .

31st August 2012, 08:38 PM	#5
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	It sticks!!!

31st August 2012, 10:52 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,378	Good for the 'wet work' .

1st September 2012, 12:28 AM	#7
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	O wow , dont know why i bother to post this, guess its just I like stuff like the truth & facts, rather than , imagination,supposition, old wives tales & fantasy. Close up photos particlarily of the end grain are neccasary to identify Rhino horn. So many collectors seem unable to tell the differance between unusualy coloured & fiberous buffalo or goat horn & rhino. {Guess that makes a few dealers happy though. } And after allAny horn thats realy dry will grab a sweaty paw in a fiberous thirsty manner! If it rhino , Bukaran or some such, Its the differance between a $100 knife & a $1500 knife. Good pics will tell the truth. Spiral