The “ regulation Khyber Knife” in the Afghani Army at end of the 19th – beginning of

[mahratt]

As distinct from the “regulation khyber”, short sabers are extremely rare and vary enormously, whereas the “regulation khybers” are plentiful and virtually identical ( with the exception of the award ones with damascus blades and/or ivory handles). The blades of short sabers are more curved, less wide, often without false edge or the stamp of Mazar-i-Sharif on the ricasso. In addition, every blade is different and some are even made of wootz. The handles are very similar, but the details and the materials of the short sabers’ handles are individual. The seeming similarity between the scabbards is limited to the manner of sword carriage (saber-type one in short sabers) although there are exceptions. (Fig.5). Thus, the apparent similarity between the Afghan Short Saber and Afghan Regulation Khyber is only superficial. Moreover, as opposed to the Regulation Khybers, the Short Sabers first appeared at the end of the 1870s but never became popular.