Khanjar from Afghanistan

Jens Nordlunde · 20th June 2011, 09:47 PM

I suppose that Mr. Yarome refers to the 1955 catalogue - so why does he not give the exact catalogue number? Besides from this, it really makes me wonder why a so International dealer does not have this catalogue - this makes me real wonder.
Jens

Jim McDougall · 21st June 2011, 03:34 AM

I am also wondering about the Afghani attribution on this khanjhar, and how the veiled reference to the 'Moser' collection supports this. While the suggestion of support from this venerable and now considerably elusive source adds compelling character to the dagger, it is surprising more detail is not with it. I know that Artzi had visited the collection c.1994 (before it was stored away) and considering the volume of dealings he has engaged in daily for decades it seems unfathomable that a dealer of this stature does not have a copy of this valuable work, or a facsimile...at least of the 1955 edition.

I personally would like to know what characterizes this dagger as Afghan, as the wootz pattern resembling Persian does not signify Afghan provenance as far as I am aware. Persian blades and weapons were however highly prized in Arabia . If there were a number of these khanjhars in the Moser collection which had key elements comparable to this one, and all had been collected by Moser in Afghanistan in his travels, then it would have been noted in some degree in subsequent references which used Moser as a benchmark.

Despite the mysterious attribution and temptingly placed reference to the Moser Collection, this is a beautiful khanjhar of outstanding quality, though not necessarily associated with Afghanistan.

As always, looking forward to other views as well as further substantiation concerning the Moser reference. It would be interesting to know what exactly suggests this is Afghan.

All the best,
Jim

Jens Nordlunde · 21st June 2011, 04:21 PM

Alex, I fully agree with you. I have now been through the 1912 catalogue, the 1955 catalogue and some brochures from the collection, and not found any dagger looking like the one mahratt is showing. The only one I have seen, is like you say, the Arab one.
I am very mystified and would very much like to know where in the collection this Afghan dagger is.
Jens

mahratt · 21st June 2011, 09:18 PM

That is, you do not see any signs that this Khanjar from Afghanistan?

Dmitry

21st June 2011, 04:21 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	The mystery goes on Alex, I fully agree with you. I have now been through the 1912 catalogue, the 1955 catalogue and some brochures from the collection, and not found any dagger looking like the one mahratt is showing. The only one I have seen, is like you say, the Arab one. I am very mystified and would very much like to know where in the collection this Afghan dagger is. Jens

20th June 2011, 09:47 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I suppose that Mr. Yarome refers to the 1955 catalogue - so why does he not give the exact catalogue number? Besides from this, it really makes me wonder why a so International dealer does not have this catalogue - this makes me real wonder. Jens

21st June 2011, 03:34 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	I am also wondering about the Afghani attribution on this khanjhar, and how the veiled reference to the 'Moser' collection supports this. While the suggestion of support from this venerable and now considerably elusive source adds compelling character to the dagger, it is surprising more detail is not with it. I know that Artzi had visited the collection c.1994 (before it was stored away) and considering the volume of dealings he has engaged in daily for decades it seems unfathomable that a dealer of this stature does not have a copy of this valuable work, or a facsimile...at least of the 1955 edition. I personally would like to know what characterizes this dagger as Afghan, as the wootz pattern resembling Persian does not signify Afghan provenance as far as I am aware. Persian blades and weapons were however highly prized in Arabia . If there were a number of these khanjhars in the Moser collection which had key elements comparable to this one, and all had been collected by Moser in Afghanistan in his travels, then it would have been noted in some degree in subsequent references which used Moser as a benchmark. Despite the mysterious attribution and temptingly placed reference to the Moser Collection, this is a beautiful khanjhar of outstanding quality, though not necessarily associated with Afghanistan. As always, looking forward to other views as well as further substantiation concerning the Moser reference. It would be interesting to know what exactly suggests this is Afghan. All the best, Jim

21st June 2011, 09:18 PM	#4
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	That is, you do not see any signs that this Khanjar from Afghanistan? Dmitry