First Choora

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Ian

Kronckew:

The two you show with MOP inlays on the handles are from northern India, circa 1900. These were made largely for sale to Europeans who were touring India. A lot of them ended up in the U.K. (for obvious reasons). They are usually well made knives, and there is nothing shabby about how the better ones were made or whether they could be used as weapons.

Acid etching of English words on the blades is also found on some of these. Occasionally you find "kirpan" etched on them, presumably to indicate a Sikh association since all Sikh men, according to religious custom, are supposed to carry a knife (kirpan).

Ian.

Hi Ian,

Very interesting info on this type of knife. I never thought them to be made for European tourists I always thought they were made as a good quality general purpose knife for home consumption much like sheath knives in the UK (when they could be worn without being arrested). I never thought them as being Pesh Kabz. I can now place them in my early tourist weapons folder, thank you.

I would be grateful if you could confirm whether this piece also falls into this category or if it is a genuine Pesh Kabz which I have always understood it to be.
Kind regards

Miguel

[Miguel]

Hi Harry,

That was quick, another nice one. I think it is more recent than your first one
but with a more prominent eared hilt. I don't think they are as upswept as some but still nice. You will have to be careful, these Chooras are addictive and you may end up with a collection of them before you know it. I know I did.
Kind regards

Miguel

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hi Harry,

That was quick, another nice one. I think it is more recent than your first one
but with a more prominent eared hilt. I don't think they are as upswept as some but still nice. You will have to be careful, these Chooras are addictive and you may end up with a collection of them before you know it. I know I did.
Kind regards

Miguel

Indeed. Who knew collecting would be more addictive than crack?

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

I would be grateful if you could confirm whether this piece also falls into this category or if it is a genuine Pesh Kabz which I have always understood it to be.
Kind regards

Miguel

Miquel, this is a pesh, it is hard to tell how old, any sign of wear?

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Miquel, this is a pesh, it is hard to tell how old, any sign of wear?

Hi estcrh,

Thanks for the confirmation, there is not much sign of wear so I do not think it is very old say the latter half of the 20th C ? I do ot know if you have noticed but if you look closely at the cutting edge, near enough at the start of the recurve, you will see a hair line crack that travels about a third of the way across the blade which can be seen from both sides, I don't know the cause as it could be due to a number of possibilities.
Kind regards
Miguel