[Ian]

A friend has asked where this knife and sheath are from and how old they may be. I'm not sure where these are from but there are features that lead me to think they are northern Indian.

Hilt is carved bone with small brass ferrule and thin copper disk guard. Scabbard features bone plates over wood, with inlaid designs in brass, a brass chape and locket, and a copper belt loop. Inlaid designs are rosettes, a "sun face," and a temple. The pommel cap is missing. Incised designs on the mono-steel blade include depiction of a pheasant or dove on the reverse side, and the same bird is engraved on the locket of the sheath. These are designs that I have seen while traveling in Ghujurat and Rajastan, although they may also be common elsewhere in southern Asia.

To my eyes this looks like a piece made in the second half of the 20th C and comes from NW India. I would appreciate the assistance of those who are more knowledgeable and can pinpoint the knife's origin and likely age more confidently than I can.

Overall length in sheath = 9.5 in (24 cm)
Blade = 5.25 in (13.5 cm)
Hilt = 3.25 in (8 cm)

Ian
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