Odd Afghan find for ID

ariel · 7th November 2011, 02:24 PM

A marriage of a Choora blade with a Zafar Takieh-type handle. Obviously, not a very popular design, and we are unlikely to count it as the first example of a previously-unknown type :-)

Superficially, the casting technique would disqualify it from being a weapon: forging removes impurities, eliminates air bubbles etc, etc. However, human body is soft and squishy, and any hard metal object would do well against it.
Humanity suffered a lot of casualties from cast bronze weapons.

Who knows why and when this thing was made.....

Jim McDougall · 7th November 2011, 06:32 PM

Continuing reviewing this dagger, I see the point of comparison Steve is making with the 'zafar takiya' but comprehensively the association is of course by the transversely extended bar seen on some types of these.
For clarification , the 'zafar' is actually a 'pillow sword' used typically by princes or royal figures, allegedly for support as they sit on thier pillow holding audience. The term itself means 'cushion of victory' as described by Pant, Egerton.
While many of these 'zafar' are with a diagonally positioned pommel bar attached to a knuckleguard at the pommel or with a hinged bar attached to pommel cap, there are also forms which have the symmetrical upward curved bar at the pommel with downturned finials said to be a 'crutch' shape.

This form of 'zafar' is associated with the variations of concealed blades in walking stick or most commonly termed the support known as the 'fakirs crutch'. The fakirs are of course Hindu religious mendicants who were prohibited to have weapons and used these blades in 'crutches' for protection.

These were often also termed 'gupti' (Hindi=concealed weapon) and are found from central to northern India. The associated princely zafar, also often termed 'salapa' is of course a typically well made and suitably embellished weapon found from Tanjore far into the northern Mughal regions.

Rethinking the chilanum association it is of course somewhat adequate in comparison and that these were often forged in single piece construction, but the transverse pommel bar configuration does correspond well with the 'crutch' type configuration. Obviously far from being of 'princely' quality there is a possibility of alluding to the 'fakirs crutch' rather than zafar, and in a weapon as mentioned, intended to be concealed.

Clearly the choora type blade signals Northwest Frontier regions into Afghanistan, and it seems entirely feasible of course that the weapon may have been produced in northern regions of India. It is worthy of note that itinerant blacksmiths known as 'Lohar' might be considered in the wider scope of possible sources for this type of weapon. They are quite likely the source for the origins of the rather small axes called by this term used in Khyber regions by the Bannuchi (I think was the tribe).

7th November 2011, 02:24 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	A marriage of a Choora blade with a Zafar Takieh-type handle. Obviously, not a very popular design, and we are unlikely to count it as the first example of a previously-unknown type :-) Superficially, the casting technique would disqualify it from being a weapon: forging removes impurities, eliminates air bubbles etc, etc. However, human body is soft and squishy, and any hard metal object would do well against it. Humanity suffered a lot of casualties from cast bronze weapons. Who knows why and when this thing was made.....

7th November 2011, 06:32 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	Continuing reviewing this dagger, I see the point of comparison Steve is making with the 'zafar takiya' but comprehensively the association is of course by the transversely extended bar seen on some types of these. For clarification , the 'zafar' is actually a 'pillow sword' used typically by princes or royal figures, allegedly for support as they sit on thier pillow holding audience. The term itself means 'cushion of victory' as described by Pant, Egerton. While many of these 'zafar' are with a diagonally positioned pommel bar attached to a knuckleguard at the pommel or with a hinged bar attached to pommel cap, there are also forms which have the symmetrical upward curved bar at the pommel with downturned finials said to be a 'crutch' shape. This form of 'zafar' is associated with the variations of concealed blades in walking stick or most commonly termed the support known as the 'fakirs crutch'. The fakirs are of course Hindu religious mendicants who were prohibited to have weapons and used these blades in 'crutches' for protection. These were often also termed 'gupti' (Hindi=concealed weapon) and are found from central to northern India. The associated princely zafar, also often termed 'salapa' is of course a typically well made and suitably embellished weapon found from Tanjore far into the northern Mughal regions. Rethinking the chilanum association it is of course somewhat adequate in comparison and that these were often forged in single piece construction, but the transverse pommel bar configuration does correspond well with the 'crutch' type configuration. Obviously far from being of 'princely' quality there is a possibility of alluding to the 'fakirs crutch' rather than zafar, and in a weapon as mentioned, intended to be concealed. Clearly the choora type blade signals Northwest Frontier regions into Afghanistan, and it seems entirely feasible of course that the weapon may have been produced in northern regions of India. It is worthy of note that itinerant blacksmiths known as 'Lohar' might be considered in the wider scope of possible sources for this type of weapon. They are quite likely the source for the origins of the rather small axes called by this term used in Khyber regions by the Bannuchi (I think was the tribe).