Notably, the guard/handle components are not just similar, but identical, with the only difference of a single rivet securing the grip. The scabbards are also similar: wooden, leather-covered, with a metal chape ending with the ethnic ball at the tip. The sword enters the scabbard down to the guard, but with no hanging assembly, indicating that these swords, like their ethnic brethren were tucked under the belt. One can argue that this example is just a mix of the “ethnic’ and the “regulation” patters. Against it is the presence of the Mazar-i-Sharif stamp on all 5 examples of this pattern known to us. This stamp was never present on the “ethnic” variety. The size, the handle and the stamps allow us to state that this rare type is a transition variant from the “ethnic” to the “regulation” pattern
However, there is yet another distinct example, even rarer that the Khyber with the guard described above. We know of only 2 examples. Superficially, it resembles the “ethnic” Khyber
|