Indian Silver Khanjar - any thoughts?
 

Hi all - I was hoping to find out any additional info about this Indian Khanjar.

My mother was gifted it in the 1950s, I believe in Hyderabad.
It was pretty much discarded in the attic ever since - until I got interested in antique arms around 10 years ago and retrieved it.

I've showed it to a couple of specialists years ago, who suggested 18th century Southern India. They also noted the handle & scabbard was solid silver and the gold koftgari, makara finial.

I'd be delighted if anyone could give any further observations, to add to it's story.

A completely authentic item, made for an owner from an original cultural background. A luxurious gift for your mother. Items like this were not highly valued at the time. No one would give something like this today.

This is certainly not from South India. The piece was crafted in imitation of Mughal daggers, which typically featured handles made from natural stone. It was made in Northern or Central India, and I strongly suspect it belonged to an Afghan — one of the new Indian elite of the 18th century. Hyderabad, by the way, was within their sphere of influence.

An unusual and unique item. There are no others quite like it. Don’t be too quick to part with it.

Great piece! Looks like the koftgari is good quality and old. The blade looks like it could have pattern welding in it.

Osca,

Welcome to the Forum and thank you for presenting this beautiful knife for discussion. As already noted, it is an item of substantial quality. The fittings on the scabbard are well done, the blade is well forged, but the hilt is outstanding with a lot of features to admire. The curves of the various elements of the hilt are very well composed, and may well conform to the "golden spiral" in several areas. High quality, decorative Mughal work has been shown to use the proportions of the golden spiral in numerous forms of art.

I believe that there is even an elephant head, with its trunk comprising the knuckle guard, and its head and tusks inferred from the curves at the base of the hilt.

The rounded pommel reflects, I think, the head of a pheasant, with the terminal end of the elephant trunk and "macara" providing its beak. A pheasant would be an auspicious feature, often associated with wealth and high rank.

What an extraordinary gift!

Regards, Ian.

Mercenary, Battara, Ian - thank you for your comments.

Elephants head in the knuckle guard - love that.