However, there are details suggesting that it might be the earliest transitional step. The grip slabs are wooden, which is not typical for the “ethnic” variety, the blade carries Mazar-i-Sharif stamp, and the scabbard is identical to the one described for the “Khyber with guard”. The main proof of our hypothesis are the stamps customarily attributed to Mazar-i-Sharif. In fact, there are stamps of the state arsenal in Kabul, - the Mashin Khana. These two patterns differ from each other, as mentioned by Bert van der Molen.
”Even though there are multiple variants of the stamps, they always have the image of a Mihrab, - a prayer niche turned toward Mecca and Minbar, - a movable dais with steps inside the mosque. It is a symbol of the importance of Islam in the life of the country. The cannons made during Abdur Rahman’s rule were all stamped with the shahada “There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet”. What are the differences between the stamps? Before 1898 the stamp was arc-formed, after 1898 and till 1901 it became rectangular with a square “roof”. Khabibullah Khan introduced a ring of 8 rays – “khatam“ (“the stamp of the prophets”). Khatam also means “the last one of his kind”, - which may be refered either to Khabibulla or to Mohammed. Khatam is present on all weapons from 1901 till 1929. Underneath the stamp there are images of cannons and yataghans, symbolizing the importance of the army for the country. Rarely there are images of the “David’s Star” which is an Islamic symbol as well. The rarity of markings allows us to pinpoint the age of the weapon after 1896. If manufactured at the time of Khabibullah (1901-1919) it has a cannon above the Mikhrab, if at the time of Amanullah (1919-1929) there is a pulwar, a traditional Afghan saber” (10)
These dating points fully confirm our hypothesis of the evolution from the strictly ethnic Khyber to the regulation pattern. The lastly-discussed sample has an arc-formed stamp,
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